US2035648A - Accessory for switches - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1936.

2: W W 6 IE 3:

w. H. FRANK 2,935,643

ACCESSORY FOR SWITCHES Filed Oct. 29, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MM $43M ATTORNEY.

March 31, 1936. w H. FRANK 2,035,648

ACCESSORY FOR SWITCHES Filed Oct. 29, 1934 3 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 31, 1936. w. H. FRANK ACCESSORY FOR SWITCHES 5 Sheeds-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 29, 1934 INVENTOR.

$ Ill Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bulldog Electric Mich,

Products Company, Detroit, a corporation of West Virginia Application October 29, 1934, Serial No. 750,560

10 Claims.

This invention relates to wall switches, and

particularly aims to provide an accessory to be 'utilized in connection with conventional wall switches to give time delay operation to the switch; and this application continues the prosecution of application Serial No. 667,643, filed April 24, 1933.

Objects of the invention will presently appearupon reference to the following detailed description of several embodiments of the same which are disclosed in the appended drawings.

In these drawings- Fig. 1 is a cutaway side view of a conventional tumbler switch and its associated parts, and a 5 time delay mechanism mounted in accordance with the spirit of the invention, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing parts of the time delay mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the disclosure of Fig. 1, the time delay mechanism being shown in operative position; in full lines, and swung to inoperative position with respect to the switch operator,

in dotted lines.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show three alternative con- I structions providing different methods of mounting the time delay mechanism, Fig. 6 showing the mounting as used for a plate thru which pro- .iects three switch operators, with any one of which the mechanism may be used.

Fig. 7 shows a time delay mechanism mounted for use with a push button switch.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the disclosure of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a front view of a time delay mechanism mounted for use with the switch operator of a rotary switch.

Fig. 10 is a side view, like Fig. 1, but showing a modified construction, having means providing universal adjustment of the mechanism with re- 7 spect to the switch operator.

Figs. 11-13 are detail partial sections thereof, as if on planes represented by lines HI I, l2 |2, and l3 -l3 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a front view, like Fig. 3, showing the parts arranged for automatic trigger operation.

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of Fig. 14. Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that the 50 embodiment of'these figures is disclosed in connection with a conventional tumbler wall switch. The switch is disclosed in juxtaposition to a wall Hi provided with a recess bounded'by the lines i I and containing a conventional metal switch box 65 I2, the wall having a finishing plaster surface indicated at l4. The switch is disposed in the switch box l2 and includes a body IS, in front of which there is a mounting strap l8 normally secured to and generally sold and considered as part of the switch itself. Projecting upwardly 5 from the mounting strap is the switch operator 20 which, for the tumbler switch shown, is in the nature of a lever. It is well known that the switch and itsmounting strap and its operator are inserted into the box l2 as a unit and held 10 therein by means of screws 22 threaded through the strap I8 and into flanges or ears formed from the switch box l2.

The recess l I and all of the parts of the switch except a portion of the lever or operator 20 are 15 generally concealed by a cover plate 24 of considerable area, the cover plate being secured with respect to the wall III by means of screws 28 passing thru holes 21 and threaded into the strap I8,

the heads of the screws engaging the cover plate 20 and holding the latter in place. The cover plate as is well known is provided with an elongated slot 28 thru which the operator 20 projects and all that is visible from the front of the wall are the operator 20, the cover plate 24, and the heads 5 of screws 26. 1

That which has so far been described forms no part of our present invention, for our invention relates to an accessory to be used with a switch of the type just described or of an equivalent 30 type. The accessory is in the nature of a time delay mechanism for giving a time delay action to the switch, the mechanism having an operating part adapted to move and engage the switch operator 20 to provide such action.

The accessory disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 will now be described with reference to these figures. The accessory includes amounting plate 40 secured with respect to the wall it by one of the screws 26, the latter passing thru a hole of mounting 40 plate 40, the mounting plate overlying the cover plate 24, substantially as indicated, and having bevelled edges conforming to the bevelled edges of the cover plate, if desired. Bevelling the edges prevents the accessory from turning, with respect 45 to the cover plate, even when it is held by only one screw. Riveted to the mounting plate, by means of a suitable rivet 42, is a stamping 44 which is bent to provide a back part 46 through which passes the rivet 42 and a top part 48 to 50 which is spot-welded the cylinder 50 of the time delay mechanism.

Disposed within the cylinder 50 is a piston rod 52 having a piston 54 secured thereto at an end thereof. The piston rod projects through 55 a cover 56 provided on the lower open end of the cylinder 50 and at its lower end is provided with a button 58. The piston rod 52 is hollow for a considerable distance and in the hollow thereof is disposed a coiled compression spring 60 which tends to advance the piston rod out of the cylinder when permitted. The coiled spring 68 is guided on a post 62 formed on a spider 64 loosely disposed within and adjacent the upper end of the cylinder 58.

A screw having a head 66 and a rubber gasket 68 is threaded into the upper end of the cylinder 50 and thru the top 48 of the stamping 44 and the thread-fit for this screw permits more or less air to enter the cylinder 58 thru the threaded opening, for purposes to be described, the screw providing an adjustment for the pressure seal eflected by gasket 66.

A locking means for the piston rod 52 is provided and the same is in the nature of a sheet metal stamping 12 secured to cylinder head 56 by a rivet and slot connection 'l3l3a, and having a cutout 14 and a spring extension 16, the cutout 14 cooperating with a groove 11 formed in the piston rod 52. The stamping 12 has an extension which projects thru aligned slots 18 of the cylinder 50 and of the flange of the bottom cover plate 56 and is provided with an upwardly bent handle portion or trigger lug by means of. which the stamping can be flexed so that its cutout is in or out of registry with groove 11 of the piston rod.

The time delay mechanism as a whole may be swung out of the full line position of Fig. 3 to the dotted line position of Fig. 3, -on the rivet 42 as a pivot, and a teat 82 formed on the back 46 of the stamping 44 co-operates with one or another of the snap depressions 84 formed on the engaged surface on the mounting plate 40 to locate the time delay mechanism with respect to' its mounting plate and to hold the mechanism securely in place with respect to its mounting plate, regardless of the position occupied by the mechanism.

When the time delay mechanism is swung to its inoperative position, as in Fig. 3 (dotted lines), the switch operator 20 may be operated manually as desired with complete freedom and without interference.

However, when a time delay action is desired, the mechanism is swung to the full line position of Fig. 3, corresponding to the position of Fig. 1, and the time delay mechanism is then placed in operative relation with respect tooperator 20. Before the time delay action is started, the parts of the mechanism are in the position of Fig. l with the piston rod 52 fully retracted and. so held by the engagement of the flat edge of the cutout '14 of stamping 12 in the groove Ti of the piston rod. The switch operator at this time will be in the on position as indicated. If the operator had wanted a normal quickbreak operation of the switch, he would manually have moved the operator 26 to its ofi position. Wanting a delayed quick-break action, however, he will press in the handle part 80 of the stamping I2 so that the edge of cutout 14 will move out of the groove 11 in piston rod 52 and will release the piston rod. The spring 66 will advance the piston until the button 58 on the end of the piston rod engages the operator 28, after which, further advance of the piston rod'will cause the operator 20 to move out of the on position, with a quick-break movement, caused by the switch spring.

the operator to its original condition. The operator will force the piston rod 52 back into the cylinder until its groove 11 aligns with the stamping 12 so that the edge of the latters cutout will engage the piston rod and hold it in place. Return of the piston rod is a comparatively simple manual operation; the user merely places his index finger on the head 66 of screw 65 and his thumb against the bottom of button 58. Squeezing the two together causes the piston rod to return until it is latched by the stamping 12.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the accessory is so mounted that it does not interfere with normal operation of the operator 28 and further that the accessory can be mounted with respect to the switch merely by removing one of the screws 26, and thereafter re-inserting it, thru the opening of the mounting plate 40. To mount the accessory, therefore, no electrical connection need be created; no wiring need be affected; no structure need be altered; and no difliculty is encountered.

In Fig. 4 there is disclosed in plan view a slightly modified construction which shows a slightly different method of mounting the time delay mechanism. In this figure, the back part 46 and part of the top portion 48 of the stamping 44 are shown, other parts of the time delay mechanism being omitted for the purpose of clarity. The back part 46 is riveted to a mounting plate by a rivet 92 and this mounting plate has its side edges 94 bevelled and hooked over the side edges 96 of the cover plate 24, which cover plate is identical with that of Fig. l. The connection between the mounting plate and the cover plate may be effected mereiy by sliding the mounting plate, with the time delay mechanism thereon,

over the coverplate, after the cover plate has been removed from its location on the wall "I. When the mounting plate and the mechanism are assembled on a cover plate to form an assembly, the assembly is placed in position on the wall with the screws 26 serving to clasp the assembly in its place.

In Fig. 5 a still further modified construction a is shown. In this construction the parts 46 and 48 of the stamping 44 are shown as secured to a mounting plate I02 by a rivet I84. The mount ing plate has its edges bevelled as at N16 to conform to the bevelled edges 96 of the cover plate 24 and further has countersunk holes I08 aligned with and co-operating with countersunk holes N8 of the cover plate. Screws 26, of which one only is shown, pass thru the holes lull-H0 of the plate and secure the mounting plate, not only to the cover plate but with it, to the wall Ill. The mounting plate will, of course, be provided with a slot H 2 aligned with the slot 28 of the cover plate, to permit the passage therethru of.

the switch operator 26. In this form also, it is the set of screws 26 which holds the time delay mechanism as a whole in place with respect to the wall I6.

In Fig. 6 there is shown-a common type of construction, wherein the cover plate III has several switch operators or levers II4 projecting thru it. The mounting plate I I5 ofthe accessory is secured thereto by the screws I I6 and has a slot I I1 completely to the right, so that block II8 will slide out of the open-ended slot II I.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a construction particularly designed for use with a push button switch. Inthis construction the push buttons I26--I22 alternately project forwardly" from the wall I24 thru holes in the mounting plate I26, which plate is secured with respect to the wall I24 by the screws I21, one only of which is shown. The time delay mechanism is enclosed within a stamping I28 having a back part I36 riveted at I32 to the plate I26 so as to be rotatable about such rivet to and from the positions shown in the full and dotted lines of Fig. 8, the mechanism being held in place by snap teats I33 being indicated in Fig. 0.

The stamping I28 includes an end part I38 against which the end of the cylinder I36 is spot-welded. Parts I46, I42 and I44, like the correspondingly referenced parts 65, 86 and 58 are also provided. Part I44, which is the operating button of the mechanism, moves to force the push button I22 to the left of Fig. '1 when the time delay mechanism actuates, and this provides a time delay operation to the switch whose off operation is controlled by the button I22.

In Fig. 9 there is indicated a construction wherein a time delay mechanism is mounted adjacent a rotary type of switch having a rotary handle or operator I46 projecting forwardly from the surface of the cover plate 24. The time delay mechanism, indicated generally at I54, is shown as mounted on a mounting plate I secured in place by screws 26 to which plate is riveted at I56 the stamping 44. The position of the mechanism I54 is such that button I51 thereof will rotate the operator I46 clockwise from the on to the oil position. This figure is provided primarily to indicate that the time delay mechanism may be mounted to co-operate with rotary switches as well as switches of the tumbler and push button type.

In Figures 10-13 there is shown a construction which provides universal adjustment between the accessory mechanism and the switch operator whereby an accessory may be mounted with respect to a switch and adjusted as mounted so as to cooperate with the switch operator regardless of the position of the latter or regardless of variations in manufacture between switches produced by various manufactures.

For providing vertical adjustment of the accessory with respect to the operator 20, in a direction parallel to the cover plate plane, the mounting plate 46 is provided with an elongated slot 46a through which passes the screw 25 which mounts the accessory on the switch cover plate 24.

For providing adjustment of the accessory with respect to the operator 26 in a direction transverse to the plane of the cover plate 24, the piston rod 52, shown as hexagonal to cooperate with a hexagonal hole in the cover 56 of the cylinder 56 whereby the piston rod is non-rotatable with respect to the cylinder, is provided with a slot 52a on its lower surface for receiving the end of a stamping 53 which is secured to theunder surface of the piston rod by means of a screw 55 passing through an elongated slot .51 formed in the stamping, the construction being such that the stamping is non-rotatable with respect to the piston rod, but is movable with respect thereto in a direction transverse to the plane of the cover plate 24, as permitted by the loosening of the screw 55. The stamping is provided with depending wings 59 spaced apart a considerable distance and providing trunnions for journalling a long roller 6I disposed between them, this roller engaging the operator 26 when the piston rod moves downwardly to cause time delay break of the switch. It will be observed that the adjustment of the stamping 53 towards and away from the cover plate 24 compensates for variations in the manufacture of the switches.

It will also be observed that the roller 6| is relatively long; in most cases it is longer than the dimension of the operator 26 in a direction parallel to the plane of the cover plate.

In Figs. 14 and 15 there is shown a construction which provides for automatic operation of the trigger 86. In this construction the cylinder 56 is rotatably mounted on the mounting plate 46, in accordance with the teachings of the foregoing; and the trigger lug 86 is provided on the side of the cylinder rather than in front thereof, as contradistinguished from the construction of Fig. 10 for example. Disposed on the mounting plate 46, adjacent the cylinder 56 when the latter is in its operating position and secured thereto by a screw 83, is a lug 85, the latter projecting from the plane of the mounting plate 46 at. least up to the trigger 86, whereby a portion of the lug 85 will be engaged by the trigger lug 8| when the cylinder is swung from the inoperative position shown in dotted lines to the operative position, the trigger lug being pressed in automatically by such engagement without the necessity for the user of the switch pressing in the trigger lug manually in addition to swinging the cylinder down from its horizontal inoperative position to its vertical operating position.

Now having described the invention and various embodiments thereof, reference will be had to the following claims which determine the scope of the invention, it being understood that the invention is not to be considered limited to any specific construction here shown or described.

I therefore claim: l. The combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by one of the screws which secures the cover plate in place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mounting screw passing through a hole in a projecting and immovable part of the mechanism, the mechanism comprising a cylinder containing a piston, the mechanism mounting pro jecting part being on the cylinder, the piston normally being constantly influenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and move it in one the advance of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston.

2. The combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by one of the screws which secures the cover plate in place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mounting screw passing through a hole in a projecting and immovable part of the mechanism, the mechanism comprising a cylinder containing a piston, the mechanism mounting pro- ,iecting part being on the cylinder, the piston noroperable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston, the piston being so formed that its return into the cylinder is free of any operating influence on the switch operator.

3. The combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by one of the screws which secures the cover plate in'place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mechanism comprising a cylinder containing a piston, the piston normally being constantly influenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and move it in one direction, the cylinder having means for retarding the advance of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston.

4. The combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by one of the screws which secures the cover plate in place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mechanism comprising a cylinder containing a piston, the piston normally being constantly influenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and move it in one direction, the cylinder having means for retarding the advance of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston, the piston being so formed that its return into the cylinder is free of any operating influence on the switch operator.

5. The combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by one of the screws which secures the cover plate in place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mechanism comprising a cylinder containing a piston, the piston normally being constantly influenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and move it in one direction, the cylinder having means for retarding the advance of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston, the mechanism being adjustable with respect to the switch whereby the stroke of the piston may be varied.

6. The combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by one of the screws which secures the cover plate in place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mechanism comprising a cylinder containing a piston, the piston normally being constantly influenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and mdve it in one direction, the cylinder having means for retarding the advance of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston, the' mechanism being adjustably mounted with respect to the switch and adjustably constructed whereby the stroke of the piston may be varied in length and in position.

'7. The combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by one of the screws which secures the cover plate in place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mechanism comprising a cylinder and a piston, the piston normally being constantly in-- fluenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and move it in one direction, the cylinder having means for retarding the advance of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston, means providing an adjustable mounting for the cylinder with respect to the cover plate whereby the stroke of the piston may be varied in position.

8. The combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by

one of the screws which secures the cover plate in place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mechanism comprising a cylinder and a piston, the piston normally being constantly influenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and move it in one direction, the cylinder having means for retarding the advances of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston, means providing an adjustable mounting for the cylinder with respect to the cover plate whereby the stroke of the piston may be varied in position, the piston having a part for engaging the operator, the part being adjustably mounted with respect to the piston whereby the relation of the piston stroke to the operator may be varied.

9. The'combination of a wall switch having an operator projecting forwardly from the wall a considerable distance, and concealed by a cover plate in front of and detachably secured with respect to said wall by screws passing therethrough and threaded into a part of the switch, the operator projecting through the cover plate, a time delay mechanism also mounted in front of and detachably secured with respect to said plate, by one of the screws which secures the cover plate in place, and thereby secured with respect to said wall, the mechanism comprising a cylinder and a piston, the piston normally being constantly influenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and move it in one direction, the cylinder having means for retarding the advance of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston, means providing an adjustable mounting for the cylinder along the ,cover plate whereby the stroke of the piston may be varied in position, the piston having a part for engaging the operator, the part being adjustably mounted tomove towards and from the switch, whereby the relation of the piston stroke to the operator may be varied.

10. The combination or a wall switch having an to said wall, the mechanism comprising a cylinder and a piston, the piston normally being constantly influenced out of the cylinder to engage the operator and move it in one direction, the cylinder having means for retarding the advance of the piston, there being a manually operable latch for restraining the outward movement of the piston, means providing an adjustable mounting for the cylinder along the cover plate whereby the stroke of the piston may be varied in position, the piston having a part for engaging the operator, the part being adjustably mounted to move towards and from the switch, whereby the relation of the piston stroke to the operator may be varied, the part being of considerable length along the cover plate in a direction transverse to the piston stroke, suflicient to compensate for any irregularities in the position of the mechanism-mounting screw with respect to the operator that might exist.

WILLIAM H. FRANK.

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