US1946504A - Electric circuit controlling appliance - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1934. J. SACHS ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CCNIRCLLINC APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I/EUDF.

/5 Uffa/75 VT Feb. 13, 1934. J. SACHS v ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIACE Filed Sept. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 1,946,504 FlcE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIAN CE Joseph Sachs, West Hartford, Conn.

Application September 16, 1931 Serial No. 563,148

15 Claims.

'Ihe present invention relates particularly to electric circuit controlling devices of the type described in my Patents No. 1,754,445 and No. 1,790,- $241 dated respectively April 15, 1930 and January The principal object of the invention is to provide a switch of this general type, but so constructed as to be adapted to provide a plurality of breaks and preferably four or more breaks in the circuit within a very compact space. As the result of the invention I am enabled to produce an cillcient and reliable switch at a low cost,-and I also obtain certain important operative advantages which are hereinafter described. The invention 'is particularly `valuable when used in unfused switches, although it is by no means so limited.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improved details of construction particularly applicable to unfused switches, but not necessarily limited to such switches adapted to provide four or more breaks.

In the accompanying drawings I-have shown y the invention embodied in an unfused switch and in a fused switch, but it will be understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose. Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an unfused switch embodying the invention, a portion of the front cover of the enclosing cabinet being broken away.`

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the switch shownin Fig. 1, the enclosing` cabinet being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the liner33 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary front view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the movable switch parts in open positions'.

'.Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the movable switch parts in open positions.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the various parts of onexof the switch units separated from each other in order that their details of construction may more clearly appear.

Fig. 'l isa fragmentary front view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a fused switch.

The switch embodying the invention is particularly adapted to be mounted within an enclosing cabinet, such as 1, and it is so shown. 'I'he cabinet 1 may be of any usual or preferred'construction and is illustrated as being rectangular inform with an openable front cover 2. The rear wall and the side Walls of the cabinet serve to support the various parts of the switch.

As shown, there are two separate switching (Cl. 20o- 145) There are provided at least two similar transversely spaced pairs of stationary switch contacts arranged with adjacent contacts of adjacent pairs electrically connected with each other. Only two pairs of such contacts are shown in' the drawings but there may be three or more pairs if necessary. The contacts of the two pairs are indicated in the drawings at 3 and 4 and at 5 and 6. Preferably the two contacts of each pair are transversely spaced, and their contact faces are parallel and face toward each other. The two contacts 4 and 5 are electrically connected with each other and may be conveniently formedfrom a single piece of metal constituting a contact member.

The manner of mounting of the several stationary contacts may be varied, but I prefer to `provide for .this'purpose an insulating supporting device 7 which is secured by means of screws 8, 8 `to the rear supporting wall which, in this case, is the rear wall -of the cabinet 1. The two outer stationary contacts 3 and 6 are mounted directly on the' insulating supporting device 7, the former being held. by screws 9 and 10 extending forward from the rear of the supporting device 7 and the latter being held by'screws 11, 11

extending rearward from the'front of the supporting device. A wire terminal 12 is connected with the contact 3 near the rear thereof and a wire terminal 13 is connected with the contact 6` near the front thereof. y

When there are two or more groups of switch contacts and two or more separate switching de- `vices as herein shown, there may be a single transverse insulatingsupporting device which 'is large enough to support all of the stationary switch contacts. Preferably, however, there is provided a separate insulating supporting device '7 for each group of contacts, these separate supporting devices being separately supported on the rear wall of the cabinet entirely independently of each other.. The several separate contact units may be identical in construction, or they may differ. The provision of such separate contact units has the advantage of simplifying manufacture as but a small number of styles of unit isrequired for a large variety of switchesihaving different numbers of legs and otherwise differing from each other. It has the further advantage that, in case of injury to the contacts of one group the corresponding unit can be removed and replaced withoutv disturbing other units.

For supporting the combined contacts 4 and 5 there is preferably provided a central insulating plate 14 which engages at its rear edge with the insulating supporting device 7. Preferably and as shown the supporting device is provided with a groove into which the plate 14 fits. The plate 14 is provided with a transverse slot through which extends a U-shaped contact member which constitutes the before-mentioned contacts 4 and 5.

For making and breaking the circuit between the contacts of the two pairs I provide two similar transversely spaced switching members which are movable in unison parallelly with each other and between the contacts of the respective pairs. The two switching members, while movable in unison as hereinafter described, are preferably entirely free from any direct mechanical connection with each other. When the contacts of each pair have substantially parallel faces which face each other as is shown in the drawings, each switching member comprises a contact element with substantially parallel faces adapted to engage and disengage the contact faces of the two stationary switch contacts `of the corresponding pair. Preferably and as shown each switching member comprises a thin fiat insulating element 15 on which the corresponding contact element 16 is supported, the said contact element extending through a slot in the insulating element and having its contact faces at opposite sides thereof. Preferably each switching member is rectilinearly movable, being guided at the rear partly by the insulating supporting device 7 and partly by the rear Wall of the cabinet as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Positioned near the front of the stationary switch contacts is an insulating plate 17 which is spaced forward from the insulating supporting device 7. Preferably the plate 17 is supported by means of small metal brackets 18 secured to the forward projecting parts of the switch contacts 6, being connected with the said brackets by means of screws 19. The plate 17 serves to guide the switching members at the front. Removal of the plate 17 permits removal of the switching members for inspection, repair or re-.

placement.

In addition to serving as a front guide for the switching members the front plate 17 also serves to hold the central plate 14 in its proper position. Preferably the central plate 14 is notched at 14 as shown in Fig. 6 and a small block 20 is releasably secured to the plate 14 by means of a screw 21 extending through a hole 21a in the plate. 'I'he block 20 is notched as shown and is so positioned that the portion thereof between the notches will enter the notch 14a in the plate 14. Thus when the block is in place the plate 14 is held against movement either laterally or longitudinally. When the plate 17 is removed the plate 14 can Abe removed in the forward direction. However, by removing the screw 21 the plate 14 is released so that it can be removed in the upward direction without removing the plate 17.

The two switch members are entirely free for limited lateral adjustment independently of each other as determined by the engagement of their contact elements with the corresponding stationary contacts. Preferably the insulating supporting device 7 is provided with grooves for receiving the rear edge portions of the insulating elements 15, but it will be observed that these slots are wider thanthe said elements so as to permit the lateral adjustment. Preferably the plate 17 is provided with structurally separate studs or buttons 22 which limit lateral movement of the front portions of the switching members. It will be observed that lateral movement of the front portion of each switching member is limited in one direction by the central insulating plate 14 and in the other direction by the corresponding stud 22. Inasmuch as each switching member can adjust itself independently of the companion switching member, I am enabled to obtain firm electrical engagement between the several stationary and movable contacts, such engagement being effected notwithstanding minor inaccuracies due to initial construction or subsequent wear or abuse.

For the purpose of operating `the two switching members in unison, I provide a cranked operating member 23 which is pivotally mounted in suitable apertures or bearings in the opposite side walls of the cabinet 1. This operating member extends through slots 24 in the respective insulating elements 15 of the switching members. It will be observed that the switching members are entirely independent except for their engagement with the common operating member. The operating member does not interfere in any way with the described free transverse adjustment of the switching members.

There is provided an operating handle 25 which may be rigidly connected with the' operating member. Preferably, however, this handle is connected with the said member by means of a suitable quick-make-and-break mechanism, such as shown in my Patent No. 1,444,557 dated February 6, 1923. The handle 25 is secured to a hub 26 which is rotatable in a relatively large aperture in the corresponding side wall of the cabinet. Secured to the hub 26 is a projecting operating finger 27. Rotatably mounted on the hub 26 is an intermediate member 28 which is held in one or the other of two extreme positions by means of an over-the-center spring 29 surrounding a guide rod 30. The lower end of the guide rod is enlarged and is pivoted to an ear 31 on the intermediate member 28 and the other end of the rod 30 is guided in a bracket 32 secured to the side wall of the box. 'I'he intermediate member 28 is provided With ears 33 and 34 which are adapted to be engaged by the operating finger 27 and which are also adapted to directly engage the crank portion of the operating member 23.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the parts in the position 'which they occupy when the switch is closed. When the handle 25 is moved downward the finger 27 is turned in the clockwise direction and this causes a similar movement of the intermediate member 28. This movement continues until the ear 33 engages or approximately engages the cranked portion of the member 23, at which time the spring 29 is at or near the dead center. Continued movement carries the spring past dead center and the spring thereupon acts to throw the parts quickly to their open-circuit positions. When the switch is to be closed the operation described is reversed and the cranked portion of the member 23 is engaged by the ear 34 and is carried with a snap action from its closed-circuit position to its open-circuit position.

Stops 35 and 36 are preferably provided for limiting the movement of the operating member 23 and preferably there is also provided a spring detent 37 which assists in holding the operating member in its uppermost open-circuit position.

It will be apparent that by reason of the present invention I am enabled to provide a switch having facilities for breaking the circuit at four or more places, and am at the same time enabled to m'ake the vertical dimensions considerably less than is necessary with a switch of the type disclosed-in my Patent No. 1,754,445. This reduction in the vertical dimension is particularly important for unfused switches, wherein the vertical length is not required for the fuses. With a fused switch such as shown in the last before-mentioned patent, the two pairs of stationary contacts are vertically spaced and the fuse itself serves as the means for electrically connecting one contact of one pair with the corresponding contact of vanother pair. With an unfused switch, however, it is necessary when the two pairs of contacts are vertically spaced to provide a separate electrical connector. this separate electrical connector is made unnecessary, as the two contacts, such as 4 and 5,

are directly joined. As the result of the de-v I am enabled to effect further economies by being able to mount the stationary contacts of both pairs on a single compact insulating supporting device. Furthermore, by reason of this compact arrangement of the contacts, the enclosing cabinet can be much smaller than would otherwise be necessary.

It will also be apparent that by my improved construction I not only provide four breaks vin the circuit, but I also provide insulating barriers which, upon the breaking of the circuit, are interposed between the several disconnected contacts and serve to prevent any possible arcing that might otherwise tend to occur. The insulating elements 15, 15 constitute barriers between the stationary switch contacts 3, 4 and 5, 6 and the central plate 14 constitutes an insulating barrier between the movable contacts 16, 16.

While the invention Ycan be most advantageously embodied in an unfused switch, it can nevertheless, if desired, be embodied in a fused switch. In Fig. 7 Ik have shown a construction which is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 6, with the single exception that provision is made for associating a fuse with the switch. There is provided a plate 17a similar to the plate 17 and similarly supported at the top. At the bottom, however, it is -supported by a bracket 38 secured to the rear wall of the cabinet l. A fuse contact 39 is secured directly to the forward projecting portion of the switch contact 6, and a companion fuse contact 40 is mounted directly on the plate 1 7 at the lower part thereof. A wire terminal 13a is electrically connected with the fuse contact 40.

'I'he present application is intended to be limited to those features of invention which are incorporated in or are applicable to a single switching device or unit for one leg of, a circuit, and which do not involve a plurality of switching devices or units and which do not involve means for supporting a fuse in association with the switching device or unit. 'I'hose features of invention herein disclosed which involve a plurality of switching devices or units or which involve fuse contacts in association with a switching vdevice or unit are set forth and claimed in my copending application for Electric circuit controlling appliances, Serial No. 659,922 filed March 7, 1933 as a continuation-in-part of this present application.

What I claim is:

l. In an electric switch, the combination of two similar transversely spaced pairs of station- By virtue of the present invention ary switch contacts arranged with adjacent contacts of the two pairs electrically connected with each other, a transverse cranked operating member, and two similar transversely spaced rectilinearly movable switching members free from direct mechanical connection with each other but both connected with the operating member for movement in unison parallelly with each other, each switching member comprising a contact element adapted to engage and disengage the two stationary switch contacts of the corresponding pair.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of two similar transversely spaced pairs of stationary switch contacts arranged with adjacent contacts of the two pairs electrically connected with each other, the two contacts of each pair having substantially parallel contact faces which face toward each other, an operating means, two similar transversely spaced switching members detachably engaging the operating means and movable thereby parallelly with each other and each comprising a contact element with substantially parallel faces adapted to engage and dsengage the parallel contact faces of the two stationary contacts of the corresponding pair, and means normally engaging both switching members and movable to release them to permit their forward removal from the switch each independently of the other.

3. In a fused electric switch, the combination y of two similar transversely 'spaced pairs of transversely spaced stationary switch contacts arranged with the adjacent contacts of the two pairs electrically connected with each other, two similar transversely spaced switching members movable parallelly with each other and in unison between the contacts of the respective pairs, each switching member comprising a contact element adapted to engage and disengage the two stationary contacts of the corresponding pair, a wire terminal electrically connected` with the rear portion of the otherwise unconnected switch contact of one pair, and a pair of fuse contacts one of which is electrically connected with and directly supported upon the front portion of the otherwise unconnected switch contact of the other pair.

4. The combination in 'an electric switch, of two similar pairs of-stationary switch contacts arranged with adjacent contacts of the two pairs electrically connected with each other, two simi-- lar switching members movable parallelly with each other and each having a contact element adapted to engage and disengage the two stationaiy contacts of the corresponding pair, the said switching members being entirely free for limited transverse adjustment independently of each other as determined by the engagement of their contact elements with the corresponding stationary contacts, and means for operating the said switching members in unison.

5. An electric switch as s et forth in claim 4, wherein the two pairs of stationary switch contacts are transversely spaced from each other and wherein the two switching members are transversely spaced from each other.

6. An electric switch asy set forth in claim 4, wherein each switching member comprises an insulating element with a slot therein extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement, and wherein'there is a crank member extending through the slots of the two switching members to operate them in unison,

the said crank member being adapted to permit the said free transverse adjustment.

7. 4An electric switch comprising in combination, a rear insulating support, two similar transversely spaced pairs of transversely spaced stationary switch contacts carried by the support and arranged with the adjacent contacts of the two pairs electrically connected with each other, two similar transversely spaced parallel rectilinearly movable switching members each com- `prising a thin flat insulating element in guiding engagement at the rear with the support and also comprising a contact element carried by the insulating element with its contact faces at opposite sides thereof, and an operating member for moving the switching members in unison parallelly with each, other between and into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts of the respective pairs.

8. An electric switch comprising in combination, a rear insulating support, two similar transversely spaced pairs of transversely spaced stationary switch contacts carried 'by the support and arranged with the adjacent contacts of 'the two pairs electrically connected with each other, two similar transversely spaced parallel rectilinearly movable switching members each comprising a thin flat insulating element in guiding engagement at the rear with the support and also comprising a contact element carried by the insulating element with its contact faces at opposite sides thereof, a front plate supported at least in part on one of the stationary contacts and having guiding engagement with the front edges of the insulating elements of the switching members, and an operating member for moving the switching members in unison parallelly with each other between and into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts of the respective pairs.

9. An electric switch comprising in combination, two similar transversely spaced pairs of transversely spaced stationary switch contacts arranged with the adjacent contacts of the two pairs electrically connected with each other, two similar transversely spaced rectilinearly movable switching members each comprising a thin flat insulating element having a slot open at the rear and also comprising a contact element carried by the insulating element with its contact faces at opposite sidesthereof, a transverse cranked operating member extending through the slots for rectilinearly moving the two switchlng4 members in unison between and into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts of the respective pairs, and means normally engaging both switching members and movable to release them to permit their forward removal from the switch each independently of the other.

10. In a switch of the class described, the combination of 'a rear insulating supporting device, a central insulating plate engaging the support and partly held in place thereby, a contact member carried by the plate and shaped to form statlonary contacts at the opposite sides thereof, two other stationary contacts carried by the supporting device and cooperating respectively with the rst said contacts to form two similar pairs of contacts, two similar switching members rec tilinearly movable parallelly with each other at opposite sides of the insulating plate and guided in part by the supporting device and each comamato/i prising a thin flat insulating element and a contact element carried by the insulating element and shaped to engage and disengage the two stationary contacts of the corresponding pair, and means for operating the two switching members in unison.

11. A switch as set forth in claim 10, wherein there is a .front plate which serves as a guide for the said insulating elements at the front and which also serves to hold the central plate at the front thereof.

12. A switch as set forth in claim lll, wherein there is a front plate which serves as a guide for the said insulating elements at the front and which also serves to hold the central plate at the front thereof, and wherein there is provided on the front plate means for releasably engaging the central plate to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, the said central plate being freely removable longitudinally when the last said means is released.

13. In'an electric switch, the combination of a rear insulating support, two transversely spaced stationary switch contacts carried by the support and projecting forward therefrom, at least one switching member rectilinearly movable between the. said contacts to make and break electrical connection between them, a wire terminal electrically connected with the rear portion of one of the stationary contacts, and a wire terminal electrically connected with and directly supported upon the front portion of the other stationary contact.

14. The combination of a rear supporting wall, a rear insulating support on the rear wall, two opposed stationary switch contacts projecting forward from the support, a, switching member rectilinearly movable between the stationary contacts and comprising a thin flat insulating element having guiding engagement at the rear with the said wall and with the said support and also comprising a contact element carried by the insulating element and having contact faces at opposite sides thereof, a stationary insulating plate at the front of the switching member and having guiding engagement with the front edge of the insulating element thereof, the said plate being supported at least in part on one of the stationary contacts, a Wire terminal electrically connected with the rear portion of lone of the stationary contacts, and a wire terminal electrically connected with and directly supported upon the other stationary contact in front of the plane of the said plate.

15. The combination of two opposed stationary switch contacts, a switching member rectilinearly movable between the stationary contacts and comprising a thin flat insulating element and a contact element carried by the insulating element and having contact face: at opposite sides of the insulating element adapted to engage and disengage the two stationary contacts, a stationary insulating plate at the front of the switching member and having guiding engagement with the front edge of the said insulating element, and a stud structurally separate from the front plate and projecting rearward therefrom at one side of the insulating element to limit lateral movement of the switching member.

J OSEPH SACHS.

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