US1786176A - Electric-switch device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1930. TH. THOMAS ELECTHIG SWITCH DEVICE Filed Sept. 7. 1928 as m s A W H R mm M E Wm T 2 a W 2 m 6 z\ a m 0 a, 2 I/ Q! 1/ 11 1 4 2 7 ATTORNEY r patented Dec. 23, 1930 THOMAS H. THOHEAS,

OF EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, AESSEIGNOB- TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, 01" WILMERDTNG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- ILION OF PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRIC-SWITCH DEVICE Application filed September This invention relates to electric switches of the type adapted to be used in signal systems.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch device for controlling a signal circuit and adapted to normally break the circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved switch of the character mentioned which is simple in construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service.

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of which it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a horizontal section of an electrical switch embodying my invention, as seen from the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; and Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical longitudinal sections taken on the lines 22 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1.

In some classes of service it is of advantage to employ an electric switch which is so constructed that the same may be readily installed in a normally open circuit and be then operated to temporarily close the circuit. According to the present invention such a switch may comprise a base having terminal contact members adapted to be engaged by contact members carried by a cap. The cap is bolted to the base, and the contact members therein have upstanding limbs which are spaced apart a suitable distance so as to maintain the circuit open. A plunger is also mounted in the cap. This plunger is provided with a member for connecting the two upstanding limbs when the plunger is manually depressed. A spring also mounted in the cap and bearing against the plunger, normally maintains the plunger member out of engagement with the upstanding limbs.

Referring to the drawings, the switch comprises a casing including a base 11 and a cap 12 detachably connect-ed together by means of a plurality of bolts 13, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. r

Mounted in the base 11 is a block 14 of in- This block has recesses 7, 1928. Serial No. aoaeee.

15 and 16 formed therein for receiving a, pair of contact members 17 and 18 which are respectively fastened to the block by screws 19 and 20.

The side wall of the base 11 has an opening 21 of ample size for permitting the insertion of the end of a conductor 22 havmg a terminal 23 which is fixed to the block 14: and electrically connected to the contact member 18 by the screw 20.

The screw 19 may be of such length as to pass through the block '14 and enter a threaded opening 24. in the bottom of the base 11 so as to ground the contact 17 to the base, as well as secure the block 14: thereto; The block 14: is also secured to the base 11 by a screw 25.

The contact members 17 and 18 are each .similarly formed from ribbon-like material which is bent Lshaped to provide an up wardly extending limb 26, the extremity of which is folded back toward the limb to provide a resilient finger 27.

The interior of the side wall of the cap 12 is provided within a plurality of perforated lugs 28. Mounted within the cap 12 is a block 29 of insulating material, which block is fixed to the lugs 28 by screws 30. Preferably, the block 29 is disposed at the open bottom of the cap so that when the cap is mounted on the base 11 the lower portion of the block 29 will extend into the base and surround the upper portion of the block 14 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The block 29is formed with diametrically disposed openings 31 for receiving contact members 32 which are rigidly secured to the block by bolts 33.

Each contact 32 is similarly formed from ribbon-like material which is bentto'provide a depending resilient finger 34: having a contour corresponding to the upper portion of the contacts 17 and 18 and adapted to engage therewith when the cap 12 is operatively positioned on the base 11.

The portions of the contacts 32 projecting upwardly through the block 29 are bent inwardly towards each other and terminate in reversely disposed books 35.

The top of the cap 12is dome-shaped and formed centrally therein is a tubular boss 36 which projects upwardly and downwardly therefrom to provide an elongated guide for a plunger 3 The plunger 37 comprises a cylindrical body having its lower end reduced in diameter at 38 for receiving a cylindrical block 39 of insulating material. The block 39 is provided with a peripheral groove 40 in which is mounted the flange of a collar 41 which encircles the block.

The top of the plunger 37 is provided with a cap 42, the side wall of which surrounds the boss 36 to prevent the entrance of for eign particles into the casing.

The plunger is subject to the pressure of an expansible coil spring 43 interposed be tween the blocks 29 and 39 and adapted to normally retain the collar 41 spaced from the hooks 35 of the contact members 32.

For the purpose of preventing rotation of the plunger, the body thereof is formed with a longitudinal slot 44 into which projects the end of a pin 45 carried by the boss 36.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device will be readily apparent. VJhen it is desired to close the circuit the plunger 37 is manually depressed a distance sufficient to bring the collar 41 into engagement with the hooks 35, thereby bridging the contacts 32. This action compresses the spring 43, and when the pressure on the plunger is released the spring will return the same to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that the construction of the device is such that when it is necessary to disassemble the cap 12 from the base 11, the screws 13 can be removed and the cap lifted from the base. Inasmuch as the contact members 34 are mounted in the block 29 which is fixed to the cap, these contacts will be separated from the fingers 26 and 27 of the contact members 17 and 18, thereby exposing the block 14. This permits easy access to secure the terminal 23 of the conduit 22 to the block 14, or to adjust the positions of the contact members 17 and 18.

The functional and structural objects above stated are thus seen to be obtained in the construction described. It is to be un derstood that certain features of the invention are capable of modification and combination in switches of other types without sacrifice of the attendant advantages.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An electric switch comprising a base, a pair of terminals mounted in said base, a contact member fixed to each terminal and projecting upwardly therefrom, a cap detachably bolted to the base, a pair of contact members mounted in the cap, each of said cap contact members having a depending limb for engaging with a base contact member when the cap is fixed to the base and an upwardly projecting limb, a plunger mounted in the cap and carrying a collar for electrically connecting the upstanding limbs of the cap contact members, and a spring mounted in the cap and bearing against the plunger to normally maintain said collar out of engagement with said upstanding limbs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 4th day of September, 1928.

THOMAS H. THOMAS.

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