US1815173A - Pull chain snap switch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July- 21, 1931. w. c. TREGONING PULL CHAIN SNAP SWITCH MECHANISM Filed 'Sept. 10, 1930 Faterited .luly

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. TREGONING, OF WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN, ASSIG-NOR T CUTLER-HAMMER,

INQ, OF MILWAUKEE, WIECONSITQ,

imam

T FFEQE COB-PQR-A'IIGN GE DELAVJABE PULL CHAIN SNAP SWITOH MECHANE$I4I Application filed September 10, 1930. Serial No. 480,845.

This invention relates to improvements in ull chain snap switch mechanism, and although not limited thereto the invent-ion more particularly relates to electric lamp sockets having my improved switch mechanism applied thereto.

An object of the invention is to improve the details of construction and the operative characteristics of switches of the aforementioned type.

Another and more specific object is to improve the structural details of the cam track and. the stationary and movable contacts associated therewith.

Another object is to provide an improved form of combined supporting bracket and wiring terminal member for the switch.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that certain features of the invention are susceptible of embodiment in forms other than those illustrated without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lamp socket. having my improved pull chain snap switch mechanism applied thereto.

Fig. '2 is. top plan view of the devices illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. .3 is a perspective view, in separated relation, of the various parts of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2'.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the form or contour of the cam track as developed on an annular line intermediate the width of the track.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of contactor, and a different form of supporting and actuating elements therefor, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, in separated relation, of certain of the parts illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring first. to Figs. 1 ings the numerals 10 and 11 designate, respectively, the lower and upper insulating buttons between the adjacent faces of which to 4 of the drawthe switch mechanism is adapted to be secured. The upper face of the lower button 10 is provided with a centrally located cylindrical recess 12, around which is formed an annular cam track. Said cam track is of special form, and as shown the same comrises diametrically opposed pairs 13, 14, 15 and 16 of track sections. As best illustrated in Fig. i the track sections 18 and 1 1 each preferably extend through an are or area of thirty-one degrees; the sections 15 extend through an area of thirtytwo degrees, and the sections 16 extend through an area of eighty-six degrees, thus providing a complete circle.

A pair of identically formed stationary contact members 17 and 18 are provided, said members having horizontal contact portions 17- and 18 adapted to overlie the diametrically opposed track sections 13 and upwar ly angled contact portions 17 and 18 adapted to overlie the diametrically opposed track sections 14:. As shown the sections 15 are inclined downwardly from the points of junction thereof with the sections 14, and the sections 16 are inclined upwardly from the points of junction thereof with the sections lia -substantially vertical drops or shoulders 19 being provided between the rounded extremities 20 of sections 16 and the sections 13. Also as will be noted the high points of the track are of equal height and the low points of the track are of equal depth.

Adapted to traverse the track sections in a step-by-step manner and to engage and disengage the stationary contacts 17 and 18 jointly with a snap action is a bridging contactor 21, which (as shown in Figs. 1 to 4i) may comprise a cylindrical rod or roller havin g an intermediate enlargement or 21*. Contactor 2-1 is adapted for driving engagement by a molded insulating block or cylinder 22 having a recess 23 in its lower end to loosely accommodate the contactor.

The upper surface of said block has formed therein an annularly arranged group of inclined n otches 24', with which the downwardly inclined teeth 25 on ratchet plate 26 are adapted for driving engagement upon rotation cfsaid plate in one direction. Ratchet shoulder plate 26 is provided with a forked lug 27 to be engaged by the end bead of a pull chain, and said plate is further provided with a hook-shaped lug 28 which acts as a guard rail for the chain. Ratchet plate 26 is centered by engagement of its centrally located flanged opening 29 with the spindle 30 formed integrally with block 22. Also as will be apparent the block 22 is adapted to at all times extend substantial distance into the recess 12 for centering by the walls of the latter. Certain of the elements just me tioned are substantially like the correspond ing parts of the switch mechanism described and claimed in my copending application, filed Dec. 2, 1929, Serial No. 415,853.

However, it will be noted that l have herein provided a flat punched insulating ring or annulus 31, which loosely surrounds the block 22 and its interposed between the contactor 21 and ratchet adapted high points of the cam 21 rides down the incli of, thus effectually snuliing or extinguishing any are which might tend to persist between contactor 21 and portions 17 and 18 of the stationary contacts. By the simple and Gillcient means just described the current-carrying and currentinterrrnting capacity of the switch is very greatly increased. Moreover, it is to be noted that in certain portions of the path of movement or" contaetor 21 the latter is adapted to engage and lift the annulus 31, whereby the latter may effectively act as a carrier and distributor of a lubricating medium, such vaseline, for reducing the friction and wear between the contaetor and the conducting and insulating portions of its path.

The stationary contacts 1 vided with base portions 1 are located in the plane of the horizontal portions 17 and 18 respectively, of said contacts. The base portion 1'? is loiated in a correspondingly shaped recess in the upper face of button 10, said base portion being perforated to receive one end of eyelet 32 which is spun thereover, said eyelet also acting to secure the center lamp contact to the opposite face of said button.

Base portion 18 is located in a similar but slightly deeper recess in the upper face of button 10, said base portion having superimposed thereon the base portion 34 of a one piece combined bracket and wiring terminal member 34, an eyelet 35 penetrating button 10 and said base portions 18 and 84 and being upset over the latter to secure said parts in assembled relation.

Alined with and parallel to base portion 34 is a second base portion 34 which seats within a recess in the lower face of button 11 and is rigidly secured thereto by an eyelet 36. The bracket 34 is formed of a straight plate 26. This ring 31 is track when contactor ed sections 15 thereand 18 are proto fall into engagement with the C and 18 which strip of metal of substantially equal width throughout its length,said strip having its opposite edges notched at spaced points 34 34 to define an intermediate wiring terminal portion 34 which is bodily twisted in the manner illustrated. Thus the base portions 34 34 of bracket may be positioned to extend at substantially right angles to a radius of the buttonslO and 11 while providing for accessible positioning oi wiring terminal portion 34 in a plane substantially parallel to the circumferen e of id buttons. Portion 34 is provided with a tapped opening for cooperative engagement by the shank the i151 binding screw 34.

A combined bracket and wiring terminal member 8'? identical in construction with that aforedescribed has its base portion 37 secured within a suitably shaped recess in but ton l0, by means of an eyelet 38, which likewise serves to secure one side of the base flange 39 of a screw shell contact 39 to the lower ta: e of button 10, said eyelet providing an electrical connection between said screw shell and bracket of said base flange being secured to button 10 by means of an eyelet 39" The other base portion 3?" of the bracket is secured within a suitable recess in the lower face of button 11, as by means of an eyelet 40. The wiring terminal portion 37 of the bracket, which is bodily twisted as indicated at the notches 32 is tapped to receive the binding screw 3 The button 11 is provided with a cylindrical passage 41 which opens into a slightly larger substantially rectangular recess 42,

which in turn opens into still larger cylindrical recess 4-3 extending to the lower face of said button. Recess 42 is adapted to receive and restrain against rotary movenent the substantially rectangular head flange 44 of an eyelet,the tubular portion 45 of said eyelet being adapted to interiorly accommo date the insulating spindle 30 and to exteriorly accommodate the coiled torsion-compression spring 46. Struck upwardly from the head flange 44 and bent inwardly into vertical parallelism with each other are a pair of lugs 47 which are normally adapted to project into the passage 41. Either of the openings 4'? in head flange 44 may be utilized to receive and retain the upwardly extending end 46 of s ring 46.

lVhen the parts are assembled in the manner aforedescribed, obviously by inserting a screw driver or similar tool into the passage 41 the release the same for rotation within the re cess 43, the lugs 47 being adapted for engagement by the screw driver to provide for the desired degree of adjustment of the spring 46.

The buttons 10 as indicated and 11 are suitably recessed generally at 4-8 and 49 to accom- 37,the other side head flange may be depressed to.

-The spindle portion 59f of plate 3 formed on said thirty-one degrees,

wardly angled sections modate the interlocking portions and 50 of a pull chain guide bell assembly 50. The details of co istruction of the guide bell 50 and the manner of assembling the same with respect to the buttons 10 and 11 are fully disclosed in my Patent No. 1,735,305 and fur ther description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Certain elements of the device illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 are identical with the corresponding parts aforedescribed and are given like characters f reference. However, in this form of my invention a contactor 51 of different form is employed. Said contactor 51 is preferably formed from a fiat punched sheet metal member having a substantially rectangular perforation intermediate the ends thereof, said member being bent to substantially U-shape in cross section whereby rounded contact-engaging surfaces 51 and 51 are provided. The intermediate portion of the conta tor is pro ,ed with short upwardly extending lugs 51 and 51 which bent or bowed apart to accommodate therebetween the lugs or projections and 52 formed on a relatirely narrow punched plate 52 of insulating material. The lower end 52 of plate 52 is adapted to penetrate the perforation within the contactor 51 and to project into a passage 53 for centering by the cylindrical wall of the latter,said passage 53 opening into recess 12 as illustrated.

The upper end 52 of plate 52 is adapted to serve as the switch spindle,a punched plate 5% of insulating material having a ccntrally arranged rectangular opening 5st whereby the same may he slid onto the spindle portion 52 but held against rotation relatively to the latter. Plate 5a is further provided with group of symmetrically arranged openings 5d", the vertical end walls of which are adapted for drivii 7 engagementby the lugs or teeth 25 of ratchet plate 26 upon rotation of the latter n one direction.

52 adapted. to slide within the cylindrical portion of the combined bearing and spring-tension acjusting member for centering by the latter.

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

1. ln pull switch mechanism, in combination, a molded insulating base having a substantially cylindrical recess formed centrally in one face thereof, an annular cam traclr face and surrounding said recess, said traclr having duplicate sections arranged in diametrically opposed pairs substantially as follows; depressed horizontal sections each. extending through an of adjacent upwardly angled sections each extending through an area of thirty-one degrees, adjacent downwardly angled sections each extending through an of thirty-two degrees, and adjacent 12' each extending through an area of eighty-six degrees, the high points of said track being of equal height and the low points of sai track being of equal depth, a diametrically opposed pair of stationary contacts each having integral portions overlying the two adjacent thirtyone degree sections of the track, a relatively narrow bridging contactor having a rounded lower surface adapted to slidably engage and disengage said contacts jointly with a snap action upon rotation of said contactor, said contactor being spring-biased into engagement with said'track, and said downwardly angled thirty-two degree sections of said track being adaptedto insure substantial forward displacement of said contactor under the action of the biasing spring when said contactor is disengaged from said contacts;

2. In pull switch mechanism, in combination, a diametrically opposed pair of stationary contacts, a contactor adapted for step-bystep rotary movement to alternately engage and disengage said contacts simultaneously, said contactor comprising a flat punched sheet metal plate having an intermediate substantially rectangular perforation, said plate being bent to substantially U-shape in cross section, a spindle comprising a relatively narrow punched plate of insulating material, said spindle having a centering portion thereof extending downwardly through the opening in said contactor for driving engagement with the latter, and ratcheting means cooperating with said spindle to effect intermittent unidirect'onal rotation of the lat- 3. In pull switch mechanism, in combination, a rotatable bridging contactor comprising a punched sheet metal member bent to substantially channel form, said contactor having a substantially rectangular opening intermediate the ends thereof, a spindle of rectangular cross section, said spindle comprising a relatively narrow punched plate of insulating material having a shouldered portion bearing against said contactor and a centering portion extending through the opening in said contactor and beneath the latter, a punched plate of insulating material slidable downwardly onto said spindle and adapted to rest upon the shouldered portion of the latter, said plate and said spindle being interlocked against rotary movement relatively to each other, said plate having a plurality of symmetrically arranged perforations, and a one-piece combined ratchet plate and chain rail, said ratchet plate having a plurality of teeth struck downwardly at an angle therefrom and adapted for driving engagement with the walls of said perforations upon movement of said ratchet plate in a given direction.

4. In pull switch mechanism, in combination, a pair of spaced insulating buttons, each of said buttons having a centrally located dependently passage extending therethrough, a cam track formed on one of said buttons and surrounding the passage through the latter, stationary contacts overlying portions of said track, a rotatable contactor adapted for alternate engagement with and disengagement from said contacts jointly, said contactor consisting of a punched sheet metal member bent to substantially U-shape in cross section, said contactor having a substantially rectangular opening in its bottom wall intermediate the ends thereof, an insulating spindle of substantially rectangular form in cross section,

said spindle having a lower end portion extending through said opening and into the passage in said last mentioned button to be centered by the latter, said spindle having an enlarged intermediate portion adapted to bear against the inner Walls of said contactor for driving engagement'with the latter, a flat punched plate of insulating material carried.

by said spindle and ment with the latter,

having driving engagesaid plate having a plurality of openings, an oscillatable ratchet plate having ratchet teeth adapted for driving engagement with the walls of said openings upon movement of said ratchet plate in one direction, a bearing member for said spindle positioned inthe passage in the other of said buttons, and acoiled torsion spring interposed between and interlocked with said bearing member and said ratchet plate to normally bias the latter to a given position inof said insulating plate.

5. As an article of manufacture, a onepieee combined spindle bearing and springtension-adjusting member for pull switch mechanism, said member having a tubular portion adapted to interiorly accommodate a spindle and to exteriorly accommodate a torsion spring, said member also having a head flange of substantially rectangular contour, and a pair of diametrically opposed lugs struck upwardly from said flange and inwardly toward each other to lie in parallel planes at substantially right angles to the plane of said flange, said lugs acting jointly for engagement a suitable adjusting tool and either of the openings resulting from formation of said lugs being adapted to receive and retain one end of a suitably formed torsion spring.

6. As an article of manufacture, a combined supporting bracket and terminal plate for electric snap switches, said bracket being formed from a metal strip of uniform width throughout its length, the opposite end portions of said strip being bent into parallel planes to provide base portions alined with each other, said strip being notched on opposite sides thereof adjacent to said base portions, and the intermediate portion of said strip as defined by said notches being bodily twisted, for the purpose set forth, said intermediate portion having a tapped opening for accommodation of a binding screw.

In pull switch mechanism, in combination, a pair of insulating buttons, a plurality of one-piece combined bracket and terminal members interposed between and secured to said buttons to support the latter in spaced relation to each other, each of said members being formed from a metal strip of substantially uniform width throughout its length, each strip having aligned notches 011 opposite sides thereof at spaced points in its length to define an intermediate portion, the end portions of the strip being bent in a common direction at substantially right angles to said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a tapped opening therein to accommodate the shank of a binding crew, and said intermediate portion being twisted bodily at an angle to the normal plane thereof, whereby said end portions may be positioned to extend in a direction at substantially right angles to a. radius of the respective buttons while providing for positioning of the intermediate portion in a plane substantially parallel to the circumference of said buttons.

8. As an article of manufacture, a. punched sheet metal member having a horizontal contact portion and a base portion integral with and located in the plane of said contact portion, and a second contact portion integral with said first mentioned contact portion and partially severed from said base portion, said second mentioned contact portion being bent upwardly at an angle to said first mentioned contact portion, the outer side edges of the respective contact portions and the line of bending therebetween all extending in directions radial to a common center.

9. In pull chain snap switch mechanism, in combination, a molded insulating base having a substantially cylindrical recess formed in one face thereof, a cam track formed on said face of the base and surrounding said recess, stationary contacts overlying diametrically opposed portions of said track, a diametrically arranged bridging contactor overlying said track and adapted for engagement with and disengagement from said contacts jointly, a cylindrical insulating member located within said recess and having a portion thereof straddling said contactor for driving engagement with the latter, a metal ratchet plate cooperatively engaging said in sulating member for effecting intermittent unidirectional rotation of the latter, and an insulating ring loosely surrounding said in sulating member and interposed between said ratchet plate and said contactor to act as an arc shield for the latter.'

10. In pull chain snap switch mechanism, in combination, a molded insulating base having a substantially cylindrical. recess formed in one face thereof, a cam track formed on said face of the base and surrounding said recess, stationary contacts overlying diametrically opposed portions of said track, a diametrically arranged bridging contactor overlying said track and adapted for engagement with and disengagement from said contacts jointly, a cylindrical insulating member located within said recess and having a portion thereof straddling said contactor for driving engagement with the latter, a metal ratchet plate cooperatively engaging said insulating member for effecting intermittent unidirectional rotation of the latter, and an insulating ring loosely surrounding said insulating member and interposed between said ratchet plate and said contactor to act as an arc shield for the latter, said ring being normally supported by the high portions of said cam track and being displaced therefrom by said contactor in certain positions of the latter whereby the ring may also act as a distributor of lubricant placed thereon.

11. In pull switch mechanism, in combination, a molded insulating base having a substantially cylindrical recess formed in one face thereof, an annular cam track formed on said face and surrounding said recess, the high points of said track being of equal height and the low points thereof being of equal depth, said track having diametrically opposed sections the corresponding portions of each of which are arranged substantially as follows in a counterclockwise 5 direction, a low horizontal portion extending through an area of thirty-one degrees, an upwardly inclined portion extending through an area of thirty-one degrees, a downwardly inclined portion extending w through an area of thirty-two degrees, and an upwardly inclined portion extending through an area of eighty-six degrees, a pair of stationary contacts each overlying the first and second mentioned portions of said track L5 sections, a relatively narrow contactor extending diametrically across said track, the contacting surface of said contactor being of curved form in transverse cross section to insure a constant area of engagementthereof with said track in all positions of said contactor, ratcheting means for effecting stepby-step unidirectional movement of said contactor, and common spring means for biasing said ratcheting means and said contactor, said spring means cooperating with said track to insure snap movements of said con tactor into and out of engagement with said stationary contacts.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subg5 scribed my name.

WILLIAM C. TREGONING.

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