US1783298A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

G. J. MEUER Dec. 2, 1930.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 31, 1928 A TTOR/VEY Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE J. MEUER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CUTLER-HAMMER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed Kay 31, 1928. Serial No. 281,890.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches.

An object of theinvention is to provide a switch havin a minimum number of parts 5 which are so designed as to facilitate production and assembly thereof.

Another and more specific object is to provide an improved form of pivotal connection between the movable contactor of the switch and the supporting frame.

Another object is to provide improved toggle actuating means for the switch, together with novel means for limiting the degree of movement of the actuator in opposite direc- 15 tions respectively.

Another object is to provide improved spacing means for the resilient stationary contacts of the switch.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention as embodied in a toggle lever actuated surface snap switch, but it is to be understood that certain features of the invention are likewise applicable to other types of electric switches, such as push button actuated switches for either flush mounting or surface mounting, etc.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an enlarged top plan view of a toggle lever actuated surface snap switch with the cover member removed and with the stationary contact and its terminal member at the upper left hand side of the base removed for purposes of illustration. a

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the cover member in position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan n view of a portion of the base, with one of the stationary contacts and its clamping terminal plate secured thereto.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the metallic frame member in vertical section and the & movable switch contact in side elevation, and

illustrating in dotted lines a temporary position of the latter during assembly thereof with the former; certain elements of the switch actuatin mechanism having been omitted toclarify this feature of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the metallic frame, movable contactor and actuating means for the latter assembled as a unit preparatory to attachment thereof to the insulating base.

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in perspective, of the several parts illustrated in Fig. 5 prior to assembly thereof.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a relatively thin metallic blank or stamping from which each of the stationary contacts of the switch may be formed.

Fig. 8 illustrates the manner of forming two of the stationary contacts of Fig. 1 from blanks such as illustrated in Fig. 6,the other two stationary contacts being formed from like'blanks but having the projecting arms thereof bent in the opposite direction.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the contact shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of one of the clamping terminal plates illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and showing the usual terminal screw applied thereto.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentar View, partly in section and partly in side e evation, illustrating a modified form of spring toggle connection between the toggle operating lever and the movablecontactor of the switch, and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the blank from which frame is formed.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 15 designates a base formed of any suitable insulating material such as porcelain, or any of the various other types of plastic composition material. As shown the base 15 is provided with a centrally located substantially rectangular recess or cavity 16 within which the movable contactor 17 of the switch is adapted to oscillate. Said contactor 17 is preferably supported by a frame 1.8 which is substantially of inverted U-shape in cross section, said frame having the end portions 19 and 20 of its arms bent at substantially right angles thereto to provide supporting feet for attachment to the base 15.

Thus the end portions 19 and 20 are provided with tapped openings 21 and 22, respectively, for cooperation with the shanks 23 and 24 of attaching screws the heads of which (not shown) are located in suitable countersunk openings in the lower surface of the base. As will be understood the frame 16 is preferably formed from a sin le metallic blank (Fig. 12) having a per oration 25 adapted to provide an opening for the switch operating lever when the blank is bent to the form illustrated in the other figures of drawings.

Said blank is also provided with a pair of oppositely arranged substantially rectangular openings 26 and 27, which are so disposed that upon final formation of the frame 18 one portion of each of said openings extends vertically and another portion of each of said openings extends horizontally as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

I have indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12 the points at which the blank is bent in forming the frame, it being noted that the vertical arms 28 and 29 are connected only by the integral cross pieces 30 and 31. Said arms are likewise provided with slightly curved rojections 32 and 33 which are perforate as indicated at 34 and 35, respectively, to receive a ivot pin 36.

he pm 36 is adapted to penetrate a pivot opening 37 in a flat sheet metal stamping 38. As best shown in Fig. 6 said stamping 38 is of substantially triangular contour, and the same is provided with a projecting upper end portion 39 of irregular contour to !provide an interlocking connection between t e same and the insulating material 40 molded thereabout which forms the operating handle of the switch. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5 said insulating handle is of suflicient width to provide a fairly close fit thereof between the arms 28 and 29 of frame 18, whereas suflicient clearance is provided around the o ening 37 to facilitate insertion of the pivot in 36.

The opposite ends 41 and 42 o stamping 38 extend outwardly beyond the lower edge of the insulating handle, and the upper surfaces of these end portions are adapted to engage the lower surfaces of the cross pieces 30 and 31 of the frame 18 to limit the oscillating or pivotal movement of the handle.

The stamping 38 is also provided with a depending projection 43 having a rounded end 44 adapted to engage in a socket formed by the flared upper end 45 of a tubular member 46; said flared end 45 being also adapted to insure proper positionin of member 46 within the upper end of a coded spring 47.

The other end of the coil 47 is adapted to fit over a projection or abutment 48 formed on the integral cross piece 49 of contactor 17 between the arms 50 and 51 of the latter. Contactor 17 is provided with end portions 52 and 53 extending in opposite directions from the arms 50 and 51, respectively, at substantially right angles thereto. Said end portions 52 and 53 are of increased width adjacent to the arms 50 and 51, respectively, as indicated at 54 and 55, whereby said end portions are respectively provided with the stepped surfaces 56, 57 and 58, 59 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The respective stationary contacts of the switch may be formed from blanks of like shape and dimensions, and in Fig. 7 I have shown a preferred form ofblank for this purpose. Said blank comprises essentially a substantially circular portion 60 having a perforation 61 therein and an arm 62 extendlng substantially tangentially therefrom. Arm 62 has branches 63 and 64 extending therefrom at a right angle to each other, and extending from the branch 64 at a right angle thereto is a branch 65.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the same shows a stationary contact 66 formed from the blank illustrated in Fig. 7. Contacts 66 formed as shown in Fig. 8 may be located at two of the diagonally opposed corners of the recess 16, as shown in Fig. 1, and contacts 67 each formed from a blank such as illustrated in Fig. 6, but having the arms of said blank bent in the opposite direction, may be located at the other two diagonally opposed corners of the recess 16. In forming a contact such as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 from the blank of Fig. 7, the projection or branch 63 is bent downwardly, along the dotted line 68 at substantially a right angle to arm 62, and the branch 64 is also bent downwardly, along the dotted line'69, at a redetermined angle to the arm 62 (as best illustrated in Fig. 9). The tip 70 of branch is bent at a slight angle along the dotted line 71 (as best illustrated in Fig. 8).

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the recess 16 is provided at each of the four corners thereof (as best illustrated at the upper left hand corner thereof) with a communicating notch or recess 72. Said notches 72 extend from the upper surface of base 15 substantially to the bottom of recess 16, each notch being provided with vertical walls 73 and 74 extending at a right angle to each other, and a vertical wall 75 extending at an obtuse angle to the wall 74 and merging into the wall 76 of recess 16. The wall 76 of recess 16 is also preferably provided with a notch 77 extending downwardly for a short distance from the upper surface of base 15.

The recess 16 is preferably provided with straight end walls (shown in dotted lines at 78 and 79 Fig. 1) with which the walls 73 of notches 72 form right angles. The base 15 is provided with a perforation 80 adjacent to each corner of recess 16, and adjacent to each perforation 80' is a cylindrical recess 81. The perforations 80 are respectively adapted to receive the shanks 82 of securing screws which extend upwardly from the lower face of base 15; said shanks 82 being adapted to penetrate the openings 61 in the. respective stationary contacts and to take within the tapped openings 83 in terminal plates 84 and 84.

The usual wire retaining lugs 85 are arranged on different sides of the respective diagonally opposed pairs of terminal plates 84 and 84', and each terminal plate is provided with the usual binding screw 86, the aforementioned cylindrical recesses 81 bein arranged to receive the shanks of said bin ing screws.

In 'assembling the contacts 66 upon the base 15, the sameare so positioned that the branches 64' extend into notches 72 and branches 63 extend into notches 77, the arms 62 restin upon the upper surface of base 15 with per orations 61 in the former registering with perforations 80 in the latter, whereupon the respective terminal plates 84 and 84 are secured to the base by the aforementioned screws 82, thus clamping the contacts to the base.

It will be noted that the shape of the stationary contacts is such that upon clamping thereof to the base the branches 64 of each pair to be bridged by contact 17 will tend to approach each other, whereas by reason of the engagement of such branches 64 with the walls 73 of the respective notches 72 the branches at opposite ends of the end wall 78 of recess 16 and branches 65 at opposite ends of the end wall 79 of said recess are normally spaced a predetermined distance apart.

Such positioning of branches 65, in conjunction with the angular arrangement of tifps thereof insures proper cooperation o the pairs of stationary contacts with the movable contactor 17; it being noted that sufiicient. clearance is provided for the branches 64 and'65 to provide for flexure thereof whereby proper wiping engagement of the contact 17 therewith is insured.

Base 15 is also preferably provided with perforations 87 ad acent to each of the binding screws 86, said perforations form ng the usual lead-in passages for the circuit wires (not shown). Assuming positioning of the stationary contacts at each of the four corners of the recess 16, the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted for use as a threeway switch, the usual connector or bus bar 88 being interposed between the securing screws 82 at the upper right and left hand sides of the base (Fig. 1), said connector being located within a suitable recess in the lower face of the base 15 (as best illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2).

As will be obvious the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be transformed into a single-pole switch by merely omitting the contacts and terminals at the upper and lower left hand ends of recess 16 (Fig. 1) and by omitting the connector or bus bar 88. Moreover, the device illustrated may be wired to provide a single-pole switch without necessitating removal of any of the switch parts.

Diametrically opposed slightly elliptical openings 89 are adapted to receive screws or bolts (not shown) for attachment of the base to a suitable support. Said base 15 is also preferably provided with diametrically opposed pillars or projections 90 upon which the metallic housing or cover member 91 (Fig. 2) is adapted to rest, said cover member being provided with the usual insulating lining 92.

Projections 90 are perforated, as indicated at 93 to provide for reception of screws or bolts (not shown) which pass through corresponding perforations in the cover member, said bolts taking into suitable nuts located in countersunk recesses in the lower surface of base 15 to provide for rigid attachment of the cover member to said base.

In assembling the parts shown in Fig. 6 to provide the unit shown in Fig. 5, the insulating handle 40 is preferably passed up wardly from the bottom of frame 18 and through the opening 25 in the latter until the pivot opening 37 registers with the perforations 34 and 35 in the frame, whereupon the headed pivot pin 36 is inserted and the pro ecting end thereof pinched or otherwise upset, as indicated in Fig. 5.

Thereupon the movable contactor 17 is as' sembled with respect to frame 18 in the manner best illustrated in dotted. lines in Fig. 4. Thus the contactor 17 is tilted so that the end portion 52 of its arm 50 may be inserted through opening 26 in frame 18 until the lower surface 56 of said end portion engages the horizontal extremity 94 of said opening. With the point 94 as an axis the arm 51 of contactor 17 may be swung in such manner that its end portion 53 clears the horizontal extremity 95 of the opening 27 in the frame. The contactor 17 may then be bodily shifted laterally to cause engagement of the lower surfaces 57 and 59 of its respective end ortions with the upper surfaces of end portions 19 and 20 of frame 18. It will be noted that when the contactor 17 is finally assembled on'the frame the vertical shoulders 96 and 97 on the end portions of the former are located between the shoulders formed by the horizontal extremities 94 and 95 of openings 26 and. 27 to prevent lateral. shifting of the contactor in either direction,

lVith contactor 17 assembled in frame 18 in the manner just described the lower end of coiled spring 4:?" may be dropped over the abutment or projection 48 on said contractor, and the upper end of said coiled spring having the flared tubular member 4-6 inserted therein may be readily brought into engagement with the rounded erge 14; of projection 13 of the operating lever.

The parts assembled as shown in 5 may then be attached to base 15 by means of screws 23 and 24, as aioredescribed. While I have specifically described one manner of assembling the parts of my improved switch mechanism, other ways of asseini'iling such parts will be apparent to those skilled in the art:

in the modified form oi toggle spring actuating mechanism illustrated in Fig. ll parts corresponding to those ai oredescrihed have been designated by like reference numerals,-it being noted that the form of the movable contactor 1'? is substantially like that aforedescribed, except that the abutment 48 is preferably omitted, and the adjacent faces of the arms 50 and 51 of contactor 17 are spaced apart only sniiicientlv to provide clearance ior the coiled spring 47 upon oscillation of the latter. Within the lower end of spring at? is a tubular member 98 having a flared lower end to provide an abutment for said spring-two sides of said flared end being bent downwardly. as indicated at 99 and 100, to straddle the cross piece 49 of the contactor.

Fitted into the upper end of coiled spring 47 is a member 101. said member having an annular flange resting on said spring and also having a cupped upper surface :03 adapted to receive the rounded end 4-1 of the operating lever. l t ember 'llll is also provided with a shank 164 normally telescoping to a predetermined degree into the member 98 and adapted for further telescoping movement thereinto incident to oscilla tion'of the operating lever in opposite directions respectively. As will be apparent, the members 98 and 104 act to guide the coiled spring 47 at all times and prevent undue bucking or lateral distortion thereof.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, the combination with recessed insulating base, a frame of substantially inverted U-shape secured by its arms to said base and bridging the recess therein, an opening in each side of said frame adjacent to said base, a substantially U- shaped contactor adapted to oscillate within said recess, said contactor having end portions extending outwardly from the arms thereof at substantially right angles thereto,

messes the clearance between said openings being at least as great as the distance between the innor end of one of said end portions and the outer end of the other of said end portions whereby said contactor may be assembled with said frame by sequential insertion of said end portions into said openings, and means on said end portions of said contactor for engagement with said frame to prevent lateral shifting of the former with respect to the latter upon assembly thereof,

2. An electric switch comprising a metallic frame substantially of inverted ll-shape in cross section, the parallel arms of said frame each having an elongated rectangular opening therein, the end portions of said arms being bent outwardly at substantially right angles thereto points intermediate the length of the respective openings, a fiat sheet metal contactor of substantially U-shape, the parallel arms of: said contactor having end portions extending outwardly therefrom, each of said end portions having stepped surlaces, said end portions being insertable sequentially into said openings by tilting movement of said contactor shoulders between said stepped surfaces arranged to engage the end walls of said openings respectively to prevent lateral shifting movement of said contactor with respect to said irame, an operating lever pivoted to said frame above the aforementioned openings therein, and a coiled compression spring interposed between said lever and said contactor.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with an inverted U-shaped metallic frame. the parallel sides of said frame having foot portions extending outwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, the adjacent portions of each. side and foot having a common perforation, a contactor comprising a U-sl1aped flat metallic stamping, the spaced arms of said contactor having integral outwardly extending end portions provided with stepped lower surfaces, either of said end portions being freely insertable at an angle into one of said perforations to permit subsequent insertion of the other of said end portions into the other perforation, the outer stepped surfaces of said contactor being adapted for engagement with the respective foot portions of the frame to provide for oscillation of the contactor, said cont actor being alternately engagcable with the opposite walls of said perforations to limit the degree of movement of the former in opposite directions respectively, a plurality of stationary contacts, and means for effecting snap movement of said contactor into and out of engagement with said contacts.

4. As an article of manufacture, an electric switch contactor comprising a flat metallic stamping of substantially U-shape, the arms of said contactor having integral end portions extending outwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, each of said contactor with respect to said support.

5. As an article of manufacture, an electric snap switch contactor comprising a sub stantially U-shaped fiat metallic stamping, the arms of said contactor havin integral end portions extending outwar ly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, each of said end portions havin a pair of lower surfaces offset from each ot er, the opposite extreme surfaces providing pivot portions for suspension of said contactor from a suitable support, and an abutment projection intermediate the arms of said contactor and integral therewith,

6. In an electric snap switch, the combination with a molded insulating base having a substantially rectangular recess in the upper surface thereof, vertical notches'communicating with said recess at the four corners of the latter, stationary contacts secured to the upper surfaceof said base and having depending arms engaging the adjacent vertical walls of each pair of notches to limit the degree of movement of said arms toward each other, said arms each having a branch extending outwardly from said notches and the branches of each'pair having portions flared outwardly from each other, an inverted U-shaped [frame mounted on said base, a contactor comprising a flat sheet metal stamp i'ng of substantially U-shape, the arms of said contactor having stepped end portions ex tending outwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, the sides of said frame having alined perforations within which the end portions of said contactor are insertable sequentially to provide for pivotal connection thereof with said frame, and

means comprising a coiled compression spring and actuating means "therefor to effect snap movement of said contactor into and out of engagement with said pairs of stationary contacts.

"7. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a frame comprising a metallic stamping having base portions and parallel side portions integral with said base portions, all parts of each side portion being located in a common plane, said side portions being respectively provided with relatively large alined openings, a movable switch contactor, said contactor comprising a fiat sheet metal member of'substantially U-shape, the arms of said U-shaped member having end portions arranged at substantially right angles thereto, and certain of said end portions being provided with a plurality of lower edge surfaces arranged in stepped relation to each openings upon subsequent edgewise moveother, one of said end portions being fully insertable into one of said side openings to provide for alinement of the other end portion with its corresponding side opening upon tilting of said U-shaped member, whereby the last mentioned end portion and the uppermost stepped surface of said first mentioned end portion may be brought into pivotal engagement with the respective side ment of said U-shaped member.

8. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a frame comprising a metallic stamping having base portions and parallel side portions integral with said base portions, all parts of each side portion being located in a common plane, said side portions being respectively provided with relatively large alined openings, a movable switch contactor, said contactor comprisin a flat sheet metal member of substantially l l -shape, the arms of said U-shaped member having end portions arranged at substantially right angles thereto, each of said end portions being provided with a pair of lower edge surfaces arranged in stepped relation to each other, either of said end portions being fully insertable into one of said side openings to provide for alinement of the other end portion with its corresponding side openi-ngb tilting of said U- 95 shaped member, where y the uppermost stepped surfaces of the respective end portions may be brought into pivotal engagement with the respective side openings upon between the stepped surfaces of each of the aforementioned pairs bein adapted to restrain said U-shapedmem er against further edgewise movement in either direction.

9. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a frame comprising a metallic stamping having base portions and parallel side portions integral with said base portions, all parts of each side portion being located in a common plane, said side portions being respectively provided with relatively large alined openings, a movable switch contactor, said contactor comprising a flat sheet metal member of substantiall U-shape, the arms of said U-sha ed mem er havin end por tions arrange at substantially right angles thereto, each of said end portions being provided with a pair of lower edge surfaces arranged in stepped relation to each other, either of said end portions being fully insertable into one of said side openings'to provide for alinement of the other end portion with its corresponding side opening by tilting of said U-shaped member, whereby the uppermost stepped surfaces of the respective end portions maybe brought into pivotal engagement with the respective side openings upon subsequent edgewise movement of said U-shaped member, an actuating lever pivoted to said frame, and a compression spring interposed between said lever and said U- shaped member to hold the latter in assembled relation to the frame and to effect snap movements of said member from each extreme position to the other upon movement of said actuating lever in opposite directions respectively.

10. In a snap switch, the combination with a stamped sheet metal bracket having substantially parallel side portions, said side portions having alined perforations forming closed bearings, of a flat punched sheet metal member of substantially bail form, the ends of said bail member each havin a pluralit of lower edge surfaces arrange in steppe relation to each other and bein insertable into said bearings by sequential tilting and edgewise movements of said member, an actuating member pivotally su ported by said bracket above said bail mem ber, and a compression spring interposed between said actuator and said bail member to retain the latter in pivotal engagement with said bracket and to effect sna movement thereof upon movement of said spring in either direction across I the pivotal center of said bail member.

11. In a snap switch, the combination with a stamped sheet metal frame having parallel sides, said sides having perforations forming closed bearings, of a flat punched sheet metal plate of substantially U-shape, the arms of said U-shaped plate having integral angular projections adapted for sequential insertion into said bearings by tilting and edgewise movements of said plate with respect to said frame, said projections each having ofi'set lower edge portions providing shoulders to limit edgewise movement of said plate after assembly of the parts, an actuating lever pivotally supported by said frame above the pivotal center of said plate, and means comprising a compression spring inter osed between said lever and said plate to e ect snap movements of the latter to alternate extreme positions upon opposite movements of said actuating lever.

12. In a snap switch, the combination with a stamped sheet metal frame having parallel sides, said sides having perforations forming closed bearings; of a flat punched sheet metal late of substantially U-shape, the arms of sai U-shaped plate having integral angular projections adapted for sequential insertion into said bearings by tilting and edgewise'movements of said plate with respect to said frame, said projections each having offset lower edge portions providing shoulders to limit edgewise movement of said plate after assembly of the parts, an actuating lever comprising a flat punched sheet metal plate pivotally supported by said frame above the pivotal center of said first mentioned plate and at right angles to the latter, means comprising a compression spring in- GEORGE J. MEUER.

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