US1886059A - Automatic switching mechanism - Google Patents

Description

1, 1932- c. P. SMITH ET AL 1,385,059

AUTOMATIC SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 51, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO 5 'ARLIS 8 SM! H BY EFFREY NEWTDN c. P. SMITH ET AL AUTOMATIC SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 31,1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 no.6 I

INVENTORS CHARLES F. SMITH GOEFFREY NEWTON Nov. 1, 1932.

C. P, SMlTH ET AL AUTOMATIC SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 31, 1930 4 Sheets-$heet I5 INVENTQRS CHARLES E SMITH ao rmsr uawmm Z QA c. P. SMITH ET AL 3 7 AUTOMATIC SWITCHING MECHANISM Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFE CE CHARLES PERCY SMITH AND GEOFFREY NEWTON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF DELANABE AUTOMATIC SWITCHING MECHANISM Application filed October 31, 1930, Serial No. 492,591, and in Great Britain November 6, 1929.

;.. is in its assembled position.

According to one feature of the invention there is provided a selector switch in which the bank portion and selector portion are built up in the form of separate units, the selector unit being dctachably mounted on the bank unit and being automatically secured thereto on assembly.

Preferably the construction is such that the rotation of the selector unit as a whole r about the axis of the wiper shaft after as sembly is adapted to allow such unit to be removed from the bank unit.

According to a further feature there is pr vided a selector switch in which the selector unit adjustably mounted with respect to the contact bank in such a way that the selector unit after being adjusted with respect to the contact bank may be completely removed therefrom and replaced in its adjusted position without any further adjusting operation being necessary.

According to a further feature there is provided a selector switch comprising a bank frame and a selector frame in the form of naft O bani: frame which is cen respect to the contour of the contact bank.

- 1t arranged that the engagecf the selector with the support on the bank frame operates a lock ing device which holds said selector in position on the bank frame.

According to a further feature, there is provided a selector switch in which the selector unit is adjusted with respect to the contact bank by means of a screw or the like and is locked its adjusted position by means of a single clamping device.

According to a further feature, there is provided a selector switch in which the feeder wipers are located on a frame which carries the selector wipers and is separate from the frame carrying the bank contacts. The se lector frame is detachable from the bank frame so that when the frame carrying the selector wipers is removed from the frame carrying the bank contacts the aforementioned feeder wipers are also removed with the selector frame as one complete unit.

According to another feature there is provided a wiper which is very light in weight and which is at the same time of sufficient strength for the purpose required.

According to the invention a wiper is provided which is constructed from a metal pressing of channel formation.

The wiper may be of the double-arm variety the portion intermediate the arms being slightly enlarged so as to include the means for supporting the wiper on the shaft of the switch mechanism. The channel formation is then arranged to extend around this enlarged portion and along the sides of the wiper arm. By this construction it will be seen that the wiper may be formed from a piece of thin sheet metal, but owing to the channel formation, it will have the necessary amount of rigidity for the purpose required.

The wiper tips which preferably consist of one or more tongues may be formed from springy metal and may either be formed integrally with the wiper arms or may be rigidly secured thereto by welding or other suitable means.

Thus it will be seen that the wiper including the tips may be formed from a single piece of metal, or the tips may be manufac tured separately from a metal having the required amount of elasticity, and may then frame and contacts of the switch with the" selector removed whilst Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the elector mechanism detached from the bank frame 7 Figs. 5 and 6' show perspective views of a single double-arm wiper as embodied in the invention.

Referring now to these drawings, it will be seen that the switch is built up in the form of two separate frames, the first frame 1 hereinafter called the bank frame is shown by itself in Fig. 3 and supports the bank contacts 3 and the feeder terminals 4. The second frame 2, hereinafter called the selector frame and shown in Fig. 4 detached from the bank frame, supports the selector wipers 5, the operating magnet 6 together with its necessary transmission gear and also the feeder wipers 7 The main advantages of the invention re side in the facilities of assembling the two frames together and disassembling the frames from each other and in the simple form of adjustment whereby the selector wipers may be adjusted to their desired posi tion with respect to the bank contacts and whereby after such position has been a tained, the frames may be disassembled from each other and may be reassembled into such a position that the aforementioned adjustment is not disturbed. It is thought therefore that the invention will be best understood by a description of the method by which the two frames are assembled and disassembled to and from each other, and of the adjusting arrangement referred to above.

Consider first. therefore, the switch with the two frames disassembled from each other as in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be seen that the bank frame 1 is provided at one end with an extension plate 8 having a pair of lugs 9 ar ranged one at each side each having a pin 10 extending therefrom. The feeder terminals 4 are connected to a plurality of spring clips 11 which are arranged on the bank frame 1 in the form of a spring jack arrangement. Referring now to Fig. l, it will be seen that the selector frame 52 carries at one end the axle of the selector bearing the wipers and ratchet wheel etc., and that the frame is provided with a shoulder 12 carrying the operating magnet 6. The extremity of the selector frame 2 is constructed in the form of an end plate 13 carrying the necessary adjusting mechanism which will be described hereinafter. and a plurality of slots ll arranged in the extremity of the frame in a plane at right angles to the end plate 13. Bassing through the end plate 13 is an adjustingscrew 15 which is retained in any desired position by means of the nut 16. This adjusting screw 15 is of hollow formation in order to allow a further screw 17 to be loosely housed therein, this latter screw being prevented from falling through the adjusting screw 15 by means of its head 18 whicn is of larger cross-section than the head of the ad justing screw 19. A washer 29 may also be inserted between the two heads if desired.

Consider now the assembling of the two frames 1 and 2 toget ier. The selector frame 2 is placed with the ends of the slots 1% over the pins 10 on the bank frame 1 and these slots are pressed down over the pins 10 as far as is allowed by the adjusting screw 15, which (after a certain period) will be brought up against the end plate 8 of the bank frame 1. The selector frame 2 is now swung about the pins 10 as a pivot and the frame is'so constructed that when it is swan in this fashion the axle 20 of the sele t-or will engage with "the slots 21 provided on the bank frame 1. A tached to the bank frame 1 by means of a leaf spring 22 is a catch or detent 23. Before the selector frame is placed in position on the bank frame, the nose 2 1 of this catch or dctent 23 will be held over the slot 21'by means of the force exerted by the leaf spring 22. lt if of course to be understood that a si catch or detent is provided on each side of the bank frame since a slot is also provided on each side of the frame in order to receive each end of the axle of the selector. the selector frame is swung into such a position that the ends of the axle 20 with the slots 21, the selector frame is pushed dow a into the slots 21 so that the ends of the l 20 slide past the nose 241 of the deternt nrt the same out of the way and slide into the bottom of the slots 21 whereupon the detents 23 fall back into their normal by virtue of the springs 22 so that the noses 24 fall over the axle 20 thereby securing the latter to the bank frame. The adjustment of the selector wipers with respect to the haul; contact is now carried out by means or be adjusting screw 15 since when this is turned in either direction the extrem by of lector frame 2 can be correspondingly moved with respect to the end plate 8 of the ban-l; frame,v whereupon selector wipers will be rotated a corresponding distance over the bank contacts. 1 hen the desired position is reached the wipers are correctly centered on a bank terminal set the locking screw 1'? is screwed down into the threaded hole 20 Eli provided therefor in the end plate 8 of the bank frame 1. The selector frame is now locked in its adjusted position and is firmly secured to the bank frame 1.

As has before been mentioned, the feeder wipers 7 are located on the selector frame 2, and these are arranged at one end to make contact with the selector wipers 5. The other ends of thee feeder wipers 7 are constructed in the form of aplurality of knives 26 which on the assembly of the two frames together are adapted to slide into the spring clips 11 provided on the bank frame 1, thereby making contact with the feeder terminals 4:.

The method of disassembling the selector frame from the bank frame will now be de scribed. As will be seen hereinafter, the only operation which is necessary to enable the selector frame to be removed from the bank frame is the removal of the loc ring screw 17 from the threaded hole 25 in the plate 8. Attached to the selector frame 2 on each side of the frame is an arm 27 which is rigidly secu ed to the frame by means of bolts or screws 28.

It will be seen that when the selector frame is in position on the bank frame, this arm 27 is located immediately under the nose 2 on the detent 23. Thus it will be seen that after the locking screw 17 is removed from the threaded hole 25, if the whole selector frame 2 is rotated about the axle 20 of the selector as a pivot, the arms 27 wil lift up the dctents thereby enabling the selector aXle 20 to be withdrawn from the slots 21.

It will be seen that in removing the selector frame from the bank frame the adjustment of the selector wipers by means of the screw 15 has not been disturbed, since this latter screw remains in its adjusted position. Thus the selector frame can be again replaced in position on the contact frame in exactly the same position without further adjustment of the selector wipers being necessary since the position of those wipers with respect to the bank contacts will be exactly the same as that which they left when the selector frame was removed.

Referring to Fig. 5 the wiper is constructed from a metal pressing 31 which is of channel formation having a flange 32 around its edge. It will be seen that the central portion of the wiper intermediate the wiper tips 33 is slightly enlarged in order to include the aperture 3 1 through which the selector shaft is adapted to pass. It will be seen that the flange on the edge of the wiper is arra ged to extend continuously around the enlarged central portion and along the arms of the *iper in order to provide a sufficientl rigid structure.

It will be seen that in Fig. 5 the wiper tips 33 having one or more tongues 35, 36 are formed integrally with the arms of the wiper this construction having the advantage that the Whole wiper together with the tips may be constructed from a single piece of metal.

It is at once obvious that the wiper tips which are arranged at an angle to the wiper arms must have a considerable amount of elasticity in order to make proper contact with the bank terminals. It is, however, not essential that the remaining portion of the wiper should possess the same degree of elasticity and an arrangement is shown in Fig. 6 in which the wiper tips instead of being formed integrally with the wiper arms'are constructed separately and subsequently welded or rivetted to the ends of the wiper arms as shown. This construction has the advantage that while the major portion of the wiper may be constructed from a comparatively soft metal, the wiper tips may still be formed from a material having the requisite amount of elasticity.

It is of course obvious that other forms of wiper tip may be employed without departing from the principle of the invention. For example each arm may be provided with a pair of spring tips comprising one or more contacting tongues, each tip being arranged so as to grip the bank contacts on either side, in which case the two tips might be welded or otherwise secured to the same or opposite sides of the end portion of the wiper arm.

It will thus be seen that by means of the invention a selector switch has been designed in which the bank construction and the selector mechanism are built up in the form of two separate and complete units which may be readily attached to or detached from each other without the adjustments which have previously been effected being in any way disturbed. At the same time an exceedinglv light wiper has been provided which by virtue of the channel formation is given the necessary amount of rigidity for the purpose required.

lVh at is claimed is:

l. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having an. arcuate bank of contacts and a bearing centrally disposed with respect to said contacts, a subframe having a wiper sh ft and wipers mounted thereon for COOpcl tion with said contacts, means for securin said wiper shaft in said bearing and means I01 locking said sub-frame to said frame.

2. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having an arcuate bank of contacts and a bearing centrally disposed with respect to said contacts, a sub-frame having a wiper shaft and wipers mounted thereonfor cooperation with said contacts. means for seein said wiper shaft in said hearing, means for adjusting said sub-frame relatively to said frame about the axis of said wiper shaft and means for locking said subframe to said frame.

3. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having an arcuate bank of contacts and a bearing centrally disposed with respect to said contacts, a sub-frame having a wiper shaft and wipers mounted thereon for cooperation with said contacts, cooperating guiding means on said frame and sub-frame remote from said bearing and wiper shaft, said guiding means constituting a pivot about which the sub-frame may be swung to bring the wiper shaft into engagement with said bearing.

4. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having an arcuate bank of contacts and at least one substantially radial open ended slot centrally disposed with respect to said contacts, a sub-frame carrying wipers for cooperation with said contacts, a projection on said sub-frame to engage said slot and locking means adapted to engage said projection.

5. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having an arcuate bank of contacts and at least one substantially radial open ended slot centrally disposed with respect to said contacts, a spring latch device mounted adjacent said slot and adapted to close the open end thereof, a sub-frame carrying wipers for cooperation with said contacts, a projection on said sub-frame adapted to engage said slot and means on said subframe adapted to engage said latch device to release it from said projection by relative rotational movement between the sub-frame and frame. 6. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having an arcuate bank of contacts, a sub-frame comprising driving mechanism and wipers for cooperation with said contacts, guiding means adapted to lo cate said sub-frame with respect to said frame and a self-locking device adapted to secure the sub-frame in position on said frame.

7. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having an arcuate bank of contacts, a sub-frame comprisin driving mechanism and wipers for cooperation with said contacts, guiding means adapted to lo cate said sub-frame with respect to said frame, a self-locking device adapted to secure the sub-frame in position on said frame and means cooperating with said self locking device and adapted to release the same by relative movement between said sub-frame and said frame.

8. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame supporting an arcuate bank of contacts, a sub-frame detachably mounted on said frame, wipers rotatably mounted on said sub-frame and adapted to engage said contacts, stationary feeder wipers also mounted on said sub-frame and engaging said rotatably mounted wipers and contact devices mounted on said frame and adapted to connect with said feeder wipers.

9.v A selector switch comprising a frame, an arcuate bank of contacts supported by said frame, a sub-frame detachably mounted on said frame, wipers rotatably mounted in said sub-frame each of said wipers comprising a light rigid portion constituted by a flanged sheet metal strip, and a flexible tip portion for engagement with said contacts, and driving mechanism for said wipers also mounted on said sub-frame;

10. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having an arcuate bank of contacts and a centrally disposed bearing, a sub-frame having rotatable wipers and driving mechanism mounted thereon and means coaxial with the rotatable axis of said wipers for engaging said bearing,-locking means for securing said sub-frame to said frame and adjusting means independent of said locking means for adjusting the position of said subframe relatively to said frame wherecy the sub-frame may be removed from and replaced on said frame in a pre-adjusted position.

11. A selector switch comprising in combination a frame having on arcuate bank of contacts, a sub-frame having rotatable wipers and driving mechanism therefor mounted thereon, a spring catch device on said frame adapted to engage a projection in said subframe to locate said wipers centrally with respect to said contacts and locking means for securing the sub-frame to the frame.

12. In a rotary step-by-step selector switch the combination of a bank portion, a selector portion, a pivotal connection between said portions coincident with the rotational axis of the switch and a second pivotal connection between said portions radially disposed near the outer periphery of said bank portion, said second pivotal connection serving as a fulcrum for the selector portion in assembling the switch.

13. A selector switch comprising in combination, a frame adapted to support an arcuate bank of contacts and a bearing centrally disposed with respect to said contacts, a sub-frame having a rotatable selecting element for cooperation with said contacts and driving means therefor, means comprising a pin-and-slot connection and a spring catch for automatically locating said sub-frame with respect to said frame and means for etachably securing said sub-frame to said frame.

14c. A selector switch comprising a frame adapted to support an arcuate bank of contacts and having a bearing centrally disposed with respect to said contacts, a subframe, means on said sub-frame for engaging said bearing, driving mechanism and wipers supported by said sub-frame and means comprising cooperating pin-and-slot connections on said frame and sub-frame respectively and an adjustable stop for detachiell ably securing the two frames together in pro-adjusted relation.

15. In a rotary step-by-step selector switch the combination of a bank portion, aselector portion comprising a sub-frame carrying rotatably mounted wipers and driving mechanism therefor and means comprising two separated pivotal connections for connecting the selector portion to the bank portion, one of said pivotal connections being coaxial with the rotatable axis of said wipers and the other of said pivotal connections being adjacent the outer periphery of said bank portion, the arrangement being such that the selector portion may be swung about one of said pivotal connections when connecting it to the bank portion and about the other of said pivotal connections when disconnecting it therefrom.

16. In a rotary step-by-step selector switch the combination of a main frame for supporting an arcuate bank of contacts, a sub-frame for supporting the wipers and driving mechanism therefor, a pivotal connection between said main frame and said sub-frame coincident with the rotational axis of said wipers and means for adjustably securing said sub-frame in position about said pivotal connection.

17. In a rotary step-by-step selector switch the combination of a bank portion, a selector portion comprising a sub-frame carrying rotatably mounted wipers and driving mechanism therefor, means comprising two separated pivotal connections for detachably connecting the selector portion to the bank portion one of said pivotal connections being coaxial with the rotative axis of said wipers and the other of said pivotal connections being adjacent the outer periphery of said bank portion, and locking means associated with said connections for securing said portions together.

In witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our names this 18th day of September, 1930.

CHARLES PERCY SMITH. GEOFFREY NEWTON.

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