US1817155A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1931. B. M. LEECE ELECTRIGISWITGH Filed Ju1y`1'-7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l @I lll/11.111111 lll/ll /l/l Aug. 4, 1931. B. M, LEECE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 17, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm MM# w@ VV`Patented Aug. 4, l*1931 'UNITED STA BENNETT u. LEEcE', or cLEVELAND, 01110', assleNon To THE LEEcENEvILLE -coia- EANY, 0F( CLEVELAND, omo, A CORPORATION 0F omo ELECTRIC SWITCH- Application tiled July 17,

This invention relates to a remote con-v trolled or electrically operated switch and has for its main object to provide a construc More particularly in this connection,I it is the object toprovide a simple-but effectivemeans for Iturning the movable contact or' contacts with respect to the stationary contacts as the switch is operated, so that, different portions ofthe' movable contact or contacts will engage the stationary contactsy and thus prevent, or atleast, minimize the likelihood of the contacts being burned, as. .would be the case if the same portions of the contacts were always'engaged.

Theabove and other ob 'ects are attained by my invention which may e here briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and Acombinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

. In the accompanying sheet of drawings showing the preferred construction, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the switch; Fig. 2 is aside elevation with the front wall of the casing removed, parts being in section; Fig. 3 is aside view of the same; Fig; 4 is partly a bottom view and partly a sectionalview with the section taken substantially along the-line`4-4 ofFig. 2; and Fi 5 is a View Similar to Fig. 2 showing 4the switch closed. t v

The operating portions of the switch are enclosedin a casing, the top and side walls of which are inthis instance formed of a U-shaped stamping 10 which is preferably formed of a magnetic material, inasmuch asv portions of the stamping 10 form a part of the magnetic circuit.v The back walland botn tom of thecasing are preferably formed of a stamping 11 of magnetic material and the front wall by a removable plate 12 of lsimilar material. f

Extending transversely 4across the interior 1926. Serial No. 123,055.

of' the casing4 is a horizontal partition 13l .y

which en agesthe sides of the stamping 10 and also orms'a part of the magnetic circuit around the magnet. In the uppercompartf ment of the casing is a magnet. in the form of a solenoid havinga coil 14, theterminals of which are connected to binding'posts 15 extending'through the sides of the casing and vto which `conductors may be connected to supply current forenergizing'lthe coil.

Inside the coil is a short st Itionary core 16 which is secured to the top of stamping 10 and a movable core .or plunger 17:` which is preferably cylindrical in form and is adapted to exltend through an opening in the partiion In thelower compartment of the casing aretwo stationary contactsflS which are secured by screws 19to but insulated from the lower side of the partition 313. These contacts which are preferably in the form of substantially U-shaped stampings of igood conducting material such as copper, extend down along the sides of the'casing and inwardly for a distance alongthe bottom, being well insulated from these portions ofthe casing. Rather heavy connector screws 19 extend through the bottom of the casing'and'are connected to the lower portions'of the contacts 18. The cables of the circuit to be opened and closed by the switch are adapted to be connected-to these screws 19 which are' in Jlis instance provided with cable terminals `In this instance two movable contacts are '85 employed,the main Contact being a cup` i shaped member 21 of good conducting materialsuch as phospher-bronze, and theother contact, which is an auxilary or arcing contact, being a disc 22 of carbon or other suitable material of relatively high resistance and relatively; refractory. The disc 22 is adapted to move into the depression of the cup-shaped contact 21 but is normally held 23 arranged in elevated 'position by a spring Abetween the lower side of the carbonl disc and the bottom of the cup-shaped contact 21 there being preferably provided on the lowerside of the carbon disc,` `a disc 24,of conducting These two contact members are adapted to be moved by the core or plunger 17, and

A for that purpose they are supported in the relationship shown and explained on a pin 25 depending from the lower side of the core and suitably held or attached thereto at its upper end. The main Contact 21 is held from movement endwise of the pin but the carbon disc may move along the pin toward or from the main contactas the switch is opened or closed, the carbon disc having a bearing on the pin consisting of a pair of bushings 26, the inner of which `is' preferably of metal, and the other of insulating material such as bakelite. The upper ends of these bushings bear against an insulating disc 27 which separates the disc 22 from the core 17, andthe lower ends of the bushings bear against the bottom of the contact 21.

The lower end of the pin 25 slides in the socket ofa guide-28 secured in the bottom wall of the casing, this portion of the pin'being surrounded by a bushing 29 of hard fibre or other insulating material, the upper end of which bears against a metal washer 80 pressed against an insulating discv l31 secured to the lower side of the contact 271, while the bottom end of the pin is peened over against the bottom of-bushing 29 so as toholdthew core 17, contacts, discs and bushings in assembled relationship.` y j Normally the switch is mounted with the aXis of the solenoid vertical, as illustrated in and its upperen Fig. 1, the back wall of the casing being providedjwith ears 32 by which the switch may be secured to a suitable support. However, it is not'necessary that the switch besupported lin the position just stated, .but it is preferable that it be so mounted or'su'pported since in that case gravity assists in the opening movement.

In the event that the switch is mounted in a position other than one in which the axis of the solenoid is vertical, or substantially so,

I have provided in a central socket of the core, a spring 33, the lower end of which is shown as engagin the upper end of pin 25 engaging the .lower end of an adjustable screw 34 which-'is extended through the'top of stamping 10 and through the stationary corel, its lower endat all times projecting into the socket of the core. This spring will move the core to open posiltion in the event that it is not so mounted that'gravity performs this function. When the switch is so mounted that thecore has a' i vertical movement or substantially vertical j the coil is energized the core is elevated and drawn intothe coil. rThis first brings the disc 22 into lengagement with the Stationary cony securin tacts v18and before Vthe movement of the core is completed, the contact 21 engages the contacts 18, the contact disc 22 then moving into the cup or depression of the main Contact, compressing spring 23.

lVhen the coil 14 is (le-energized the switch is opened with the quick break, principally by the action of the spring 23 but supplemented by the spring 33 and by gravity acting on the core and movable contacts (assuming that the switch is mounted so that gravity can be taken'vadvantage of in the opening movement). When the switch is thus opened the main contact 21 iist leaves the stationary contacts 18 followed by the movement of the auxiliary or arcing contact away 'from the contacts 18 so that whatever arc is established is taken largely by contact 22.

To give long life to the contacts, arrange-n ment is made for turning the contacts-21 and 22 whenever thes'witch is operated -so.as to constantly bring different surface portions. thereof in position to engage the contacts 18, and thisvis accomplished in a very inexpensive, simple but highly efficient manner by on the inner surface of the bottom wall fo lthe casing a leaf spring 35 having at its free end an upstanding tongue which, when the switch is open, engages the lower side of the insulating disc 31. securedto the bottom of the main contact 21. The arrangement is such that as the contacts move down- `wardly on the de-energization'of coil 14, the

spring35 is depressed and therefore imparts .c

elevated. `O ,n theopenin l movement as the l movable contacts drop, t e insulatin disc, gt the bottom-of contact 21, engages t e upstanding end of spring 35 when the latter is in the position A, shown in Fig. 5. As the contacts approach the dotted'l line sition,l shown-in this figure, the upper en of the spring 35`y swings through an arc until it reaches dotted line position B. This rotates the contacts in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, a distance equal substantially to the lateral displacement of the end of 'theQsprin in movipg from position A to position B. whenever the switch is operated, gives the contacts a ste by step rotation sothat the results and avantages stated above, are attained. r While I have shown the preferredconstruction, I do not desire to be confined to the be'modified in many particulars, such as in the method of mounting or supporting the his action which takes'place Y Leim/ss parta-but aim in my claims to cover all modications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as dcncd in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: v

1. In an electric switch, a .'pair of stationary contactsi a solenoid having a core and carryinga bri( ging contact mechanism includlo lng two annular' rotatable contacts, both ta'cts, a movable switch member comprising a pair ot annular rotatable contacts adapted to successivelyengage and also leave the stationary contacts, and a pawl acting on one of the rotatable contacts so as to rotate both of them when the switch is operated.

4. In a switch, a pair of stationary contacts, a movableswitch member comprising two annular rotatable contacts adapted to successively engage and successively leave the contacts, a spring between said annular s contacts,l and a -s ring engaging one of the' contacts and serving to rotate the same when the switch is operated.

` 5. A switch comprising a casing, pair of stationary contacts in the casing, a solenoid for closing the switch and comprisin a coil and a core,'a pair of annular.- rotata le oo ncompartment including two stationarygclolitacts on opposite sides' of the core, a maman auxiliary contact carried bycontact `an the core and rot`atab1e about the axisithereof, a sprin between the contacts whereby one .`may yiel relative to the other and vcause' them to successively engage and successively 'leave the stationary contacts, 'a pawl in the form of a spring tongue/supported by the 'casin and having` a portion `engaging one same when theA switch .is operated@` *7. In a switch, a pairfofjstationary conof-said rotatablehontacts so as to turn 'the s tacts, a movable switch member comprising tacts carried by an extension of the core, a'

any annular rotatable contact and an auxiliary contact located within-said rotatable contact, the contacts of said movable switch member being adapted to successively engage and to successive y leave the stationarycontacts, and mansfor imparting a rotary movement to said annular contact at each actuation. thereof. c

I18. In a switch,- a pair of stationary contacts a movable switch member com rising apalr of concentric annular rotatab e contacts adapted'to successively engage and to successively leave the stationary contacts, and means for imparting a lrotary movement to said l 'annular contacts at each actuation thereof. i.

In/ testimony whereof, 4I hereunto ailix my signature.

BENNETT M@ LEECE.

Lilo

las

` iso

Images