US1832624A - Switch structure - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17, 1931. P. R. FORMAN SWITCH STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. '7. 1928 Insulnh'on Glaas INVENTOR 2 2 Par) Rl orman BY 3 i A RNEYS Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARIS B. ROMAN, OI BAHWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, 01' NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA swri'cii srmic'runn Original application filed January 7, 1988, Serial 110. 245,198. Divided and this application illed June 10,

' 1980. Serial No. 460,126.

This invention relates in general to improvements in switch structure.

One of the objects of this invention is the rovision ofa switch arranged to be moved I into closed position and to be moved to open position electromagnetically.

A further object of this invention is the provision in a switch of this structure of manual means for closin the switch, and spring 10 actuated means for orcing it open when the manual means is released.

A still further object of this invention is the provision in a switch of this type of means operable by a key for opening and OlOSlIlg the switch.

A still further object is the provision of electromagnetic means for openin the switch after it has been closed by the ey means.

A still further object of this invention s the provision of a toggle connection operated into a straight line position when the switch is closed and electromagnetic means for breaking the toggle connection to cause the switch to open.

25 A still further object of this invention is the rovision of a switch of this type which is a apted to be used for example on a vehicle wall, such as a subway car, and mounted thereon so that it ma be manually operated from the interior of t e car, and key operated from the exterior of the car, as well as electrically operated from a remote point.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a switch which is adapted to be 35 used with the apparatus disclosed in my conding application Serial No. 245,198, filed .iinuary 7, 1928, which became Patent No. 1,770,484 on July .15, 1930. These and many other objects are secured by means of the structure of this invention.

This application is a divisional application of my copending application Serial No. 245,198, filed January 7, 1928'. v

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, and relative location of parts, all as will be (181 scribed in detail below.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1- of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device.

The construction and operation of the switch will best be understood by direct and detailed reference to the drawings. At 1 is shown a casing provided with a threaded opening 2 to receive in the usual manner a wiring conduit. At 3 is a removable cover for the casing 1 having a projecting portion near the top, asshown, which in turn is provided with a removable cover 14 in which is mounted a glass window 34. Within the casing 1 and secured thereto are the supporting posts 4 on which a sheet of insulating material 5 is mounted. Secured to the supporting plate 5 at spaced intervals are pairs of pro ecting contact studs 6, 7 and 8. Likewise secured to the supporting panel 5 are the combined guides and stops 9 and 10. Mounted in these I supports 9 and 10 is a vertically slidable rod.

13 which has secured to it, as shown, a small collar 11 towards the lower end and a similar collar 12 near the upper end.

With rod 13 in the position shown in the drawings, collar 11 engages the support 9 to limit the downward movement of the rod. Transversely journaled in the top of the casing is a shaft 14 on which is mounted a lever having a projecting handle 15 which extends into the raised portion of-the cover and terminates adjacent the glass plate 34. The other end 16 of this lever is bifurcated and extends around shaft 13 just below col- 1:11 12. Pivotally connected to the lever at Y 18 is a pin 17 which extends throu h an opening in the casing and is encircled y a s ring 19 which lies between the casing and a ange on the pin, as shown in Fig. 1.

At 20, 21 and 22 are contact discs which are slidably supported .on red 13 and electrically insulated therefrom. Between these discs and encircling the rod 13 are springs 23. Upper contact disc engages the stop 20' secured to the shaft 13 to limit its u ward movement. At 24 is a transverse ollow spindle which is j ournaled at one end in the cover 3 and into which projects through an opening in the panel 5 a shaft 27 which is provided with an enlarged end 28 which is journaled in. he casing 1. The enlarged end 28 is transversely slotted as shown to receive a key. The inner end of spindle 27 is irregularly shaped and fits in a similar shaped socket so that the hollow spindle 24 may be rotated when a key is apphed to the slot in the end 28 of the shaft 27.

Secured to the exterior of the hollow spindle 24 is a lever arm 25 which is pivotagg connected to rod 13 by means of the li bars 26. When the switch is to be applied to a car wall or to any'suitable sup ort an opening is provided in the car wal and a hollow thimble 29 is secured within that opening. Pivotally supported at 31 on a 15 suitable bracket attached to the car wall or support is a cover 30 which covers the exposed end of the thimble. The other end of the thimble is provided with a smooth bore into which the projecting end of sleeve 29' When the cover 30 is raised a key maybe 1nserted through the thimble into the slit into the end 28 of shaft 27 to rotate it. It may be .well to point out here that if desired the left hand end of the hollow spindle 24 may be 25 suitably shaped to receive a key so that the thimble 24 may be rotated from the other end thereof if it is desirable. Supported in the lower end of casing 1 is an electromagnetic windinglin the form of a solenoid, as shown at 32. ounted within the solenoid winding is a pole piece 36 which has a hole extending therethrough. Inkewise mounted within the solenoid winding is a plunger or armature 36 which is connected to a hammer 33 by means of a rod 33 which extends through the bore in the pole p ece. When the solenoid winding 32 is energized the armature 36 is drawn upwardl and carries with it through the agency of t e rod 33' the hammer 33. Also secured to the exterior of hollow spindle 24 is a short pro ecting arm 70, as shown in F ig. 2, whlch 1s moved down into close proximity with the hammer 33.

The rod 13 is moved upwardly to straighten out the toggle or knuckle connection which is provided between that rod and the hollow spindle 24. When rod 13 is moved upwardly contact disc 22, which normally engages the contact studs 8, is moved out of contact with them and contact discs 21 and 20 are moved into contact with contact studs 7 and 6 respectively. At this time the toggle or knuckle joint is in a straight line position and the short projecting lever 70 lies close to hammer 33. These parts are moved into this position by applying a key to the slotted end 28 of shaft 27. When it is desired to move the parts into their opposite position solenoid winding 32 is energized causing hammer 33 to strike the short lever 70 on hollow spindle 24 causing the toggle or knuckle connection to break down, so to speak, or in other words to move out of straight line position so that springs 23' which are compressed may kick the parts downward. This movement is aided by the weight of the parts, as well as the impulse given to them when the hammer 33 strikes the short lever 70. The contact discs 20, 21 and 22 being slidably mounted on rod 13 and controlled by sprin s 23'are never jammed upon movement 0 the rod 13 in either direction since they will be resiliently 'pressed against the corresponding contact studs depending upon which direction rod 13 is moved.

As shown in Fig. 2, there is mounted on clips 71 on the cover 3 a suitably shaped ham- 1ner 72. In the use of this switch on door control systems of vehicles it may be desirable in emergency operations to operate these switches manually. To do this the hammer 72 is removed from these clips and used to break glass 34. The switch may then be operatedmanually by means of the handle 15 to effect an energization of the door operating motors to cause them to open.

From the foregoin disclosure it will be apparent that I have evised a useful form of switch employing certain principles of construction ands operation, which principles may be included in other physical forms without departing from the spirit and sco e of this invention. I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited by the disclosure as given for purposes of illustration but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch of the type described, the combination comprising a plurality of fixed contacts, movable contact fingers, a rotatable shaft, a toggle connection between the rotatable shaft and the movable contacts arranged so that the toggle connection is in straight line formation when the movable contacts engage the fixed contacts, and electromagnetic means acting on said shaft for knocking the. toggle connection out of straight line position to separate the movable contact fingers from the fixed contacts 2. In a switch structure of the type described, the combination comprising an insulating support, a plurality of fixed contacts on said support, a rod slidably mounted on said support, movable contacts secured to said rod, a rotatable shaft, a toggle connection between the rotatable shaft and the slidable rod, said toggle connection being in straight line position when the movable contacts engage the fixed contacts, and electromagnetic means for knocking the toggle connection out of straight line position to cause the movable contacts to move out of contact position with the fixed contacts.

3. In a switch structure of the type described, the combination comprising an insulating support, contacts mounted on said support, a rod slidably secured to said support, contact members thereon for engagement with the fixed contacts in one position of said rod, a rotatable shaft constructed to be manually operated, a toggle connection between the rotatable shaft and the slidable rod, said parts being arranged so that the rotatable shaft may be manually rotated to cause the slidable rod to move so that the contacts thereon will engage with the fixed contacts and the toggle connection in the 0 straight line position, and electromagnetic means for moving the toggle connection out of straight line position.

4. In a switch structure of the type described, the combination comprising an insulating support, contacts mounted on said support, a rod slidably secured to said support, contact members thereon for engagement with the fixed contacts in one position of said rod, a rotatable shaft constructed to be manually operated, a toggle connection between the rotatable shaft and the slidable rod, said parts bein arranged so that the rotatable shaft mayfiie manually rotated to cause the slidable rod to move so that the contacts thereon will engage with the fixed contacts and the toggle connection in the straight line position, electromagnetic means for moving the toggle connection out of straight line position, and manual means enao gaging said slidable rod b means of which the contacts may be move into engagement with the fixed contacts independently of the manual operation of the rotatable shaft.

5. In a switch of the type described, the x:- combination comprising a casin fixed contacts within said casing, a rod s idably supported within the casing, contact members on said rod, a rotatable means journaled in the casing adapted to be manually operated connections between the rotatable means an the slidable rod forming a toggle joint, the toggle joint being moved into straight line position when the slidable rod is moved to effect engagement between the movable contacts an the fixed contacts, and electromagnetic means arranged to move the toggle connection out of straight line position when energized, a manually operable lever within the casing for moving the slidable rod and a destructible window in the casing adjacent the manuall o rable lever through which access may be ad thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 3rd da of June, A. D. 1930.

I PA IS R. FORMAN.

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