US2108777A - Rotary switch - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 15, 1938. H. P. MIXER 2,108,777

' ROTARY SWITCH Filed Dec. 7, 1935 N Q :2 2 2 cod-3 Q E S N I: 0 cm e ,g o O o Q 8 Q Q =IN O O O O WITNESSES INVENTOR Mp4 HRMIXER HIS QJTORNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1938 ROTARY PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Harold l. Mixer, Frankfort, N. Y., asaignor to Remington Rand Inc. poration of Delaware Buflalo, N. Y., a cor- Application December 7, 1935, Serial No. 53,285

4 Claims.

This invention relates to switches, and particularly to switches having wipers adapted to be stepped in unison with the wipers of other switches.

It frequently becomes necessary to employ switches having a number oi contacts diilering from the number provided in standard switches. Switches having the desired number of contacts may be made to order, but the cost is high. This cost may be avoided in some instances, as it sometimes happens that a switch having the desired number of contacts can be obtained if two or more standard switches are combined to form a single switch. To combine standard switches in this way, the wipers oi the combined switches I must be stepped in unison, and thus far the difficulty of doing this has made the combination of standard switches impracticable for the purpose mentioned.

It is an object of this invention to overcome this difliculty by causing the wipers oi a number or combined switches to be stepped in unison.

It is a further object of this invention to opcrate the stepping! magnets of the combined switches at the same time, and also to release them at the same time in order that the wipers oi the combined switches may be stepped in unison. a

It is an additional object to hold the wipers in each of the combined switches in fixed angular relation to, the wipers oi the other switches.

The invention resides in the means for simultaneously operating the stepping magnet in each of the combined switches, and subsequently re-' a leasing them simultaneously, whereby the wipers o! the-combined switches are stepped in unison, and in the means for retaining the wipers in each of .the switches in fixed angular relation to the wipers in the other switches.

Briefly described, the invention consists of two or more rotary switches each having a plurality of wipers, a bank contact assembly with which the wipers cooperate and a stepping magnet, and means for alternately interrupting and completing the operating circuits of the stepping magnets in all of the switches whereby the wipers of the switches are stepped in unison.

Other objects of the invention will appear when 50 the detailed description, which follows, is taken in connection with the appended claims and with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of one switches:

. I3. 2 shows in elevation, a pair of combined oi the combined switches with the bank contact assembly omitted for the sake of clearness of illustration, and

Fig. 3 shows a chain circuit for controlling the stepping magnets of the combined switches.

For the purpose of illustration, the invention is 5 shown applied to combined switches oi. the type shown in patent to John Erickson, No. 1,794,888, dated March 3, 1931, but it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to switches of other types. As the combined switches are siml0 ilar in construction, a description of one will sufllce for both. This switch is described in no more detail than is necessary to an understanding of the present invention, and for a detailed description. of its structure, reference is made to the above mentioned patent.

A bank of contacts, indicated generally by I (Fig. 1) has cooperating with it a wiper 2. The switch is provided with six of these wipers, as 2-7, inclusive, (Fig. 2) and it is to be understood that each wiper cooperates with a corresponding bank oi contacts, although but one of these contact banks is shown in the drawing. The banks 01' contacts are suitably insulated from one another and are mounted in a bank frame 8 which is adjustably secured to a switch frame 9, by meanslof which the switch may be attached to a supporting member (not shown). The wipers 2-1 inclusive, are likewise insulated from each other and are mounted on a common spindie III which is rotatably pivoted in the switch frame 9.

The ratchet wheel II and likewise the wipers 2-1 inclusive, are adapted to be driven by a stepping magnet i2, secured to the switch frame 9. When the magnet is energized, it attracts the armature 13, which is pivoted on a pin it secured to the switch frame 9, and the top end 01' the armature is moved laterally against the tension of a spring I. When this movement of the armature occurs, the pawl it, carried by-the armature, is caused to engage another tooth in the ratchet wheel II by the pawl spring I! and an arm i 8 on the armature 13 opens the interrupter springs or contacts l9. When the magnet is de-energized, the spring l5 draws the armature and likewise the pawl I6 to its former position. The return movement oi the armature closes the interrupter contacts is. The pawl it in returning to its normal position advances the wipers 2-1, inclusive, into engagement with the next set of, contacts. This operation may be repeated as often as desired, and the wipers successively advanced over the contacts of these associatedcontactbanks. Thetensionoithe spring I5, which returns the armature l3 to its normal position, may be adjusted by means of the adjustable member 20, which is provided with a slot adapted to receive a bolt 2| secured to the switch frame 9. ,The adjustable member is prevented from being rotated about this bolt under tension of the spring l5 by means of the pivot H. A stop pawl 22, secured to the switch frame 9, serves to hold the wipers 2-1, inclusive, in engagement with the contacts to which they were last stepped.

' The spindles I0 and ID in each of the combined switches are mechanically coupled to hold the wipers of each of these switches in fixed angular relation. The coupling means comprise rods 23 and 24 extending through openings in the spindles I0 and I0, respectively, and a tie member 25 which serves to strap these rods together. The tie member is provided with slots 26 and 21'- which allow the spindles l0 and It a suitable amount of lateral movement.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown the chain operating circuits for the stepping magnets l2 and I! of the combined switches. The operating circuits of the stepping magnet I2 extend through the interrupter contacts IQ of the same switch and also through the interrupter contacts IQ of the other switch, while the operating circuits of the stepping magnet l2 of the other switch extend through the interrupter contacts I9 of the same switch and also through the interrupter contacts l9 of the other switch. when thestepping magnet I2 is operated and the interrupter contacts l9 open, neither stepping magnet releases until the interrupter contacts I9 open. When the latter" contacts open, both stepping magnets l2 and I2 release, causing the pawls, as l6, to step the wipers, as 2-1, inclusive, of each switch. As soon as one of the stepping magnets I! or l2 releases, the interrupter contacts of the same switch close, and operating circuits for both stepping magnets are again completed with the result that a new cycle of operation for the switches is begun.

In this way, the wipers of the combined switches are stepped in unison by the alternate interruption and completion of the stepping magnet operating circuits; while the coupling between the switch spindles holds 'the wipers of the switches in fixed angular relation. It is to be understood that the invention could be readily modified to permit the combination of a larger number of switches.

While I have described what I consider to be a highly desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the exact form herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of my, invention as hereinbefore set forth, and as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The combination of a pair of step by step' switches, each provided with a plurality of wipers and a stepping magnet therefor, means responsive to the energization and deenergization of each of the stepping magnets for stepping the wipers, and interrupter contacts interacting with each of the stepping magnets, the interrupter contacts in each switch being included in an operating circuit of the associated stepping magnet in the same switch and in an operating circuit of the stepping magnet of the other switch ,whereby the stepping magnets are simultaneously energized under control of the interrupter contacts in either switch and simultaneously deenergized under the joint control of the interrupter contacts in the several switches to step the wipers of the switches in unison.

2. The combination of a pair of step by step switches, each provided with a plurality of wipers and a stepping magnet therefor, means responsive to the energization and deenergization of each of the stepping magnets for stepping the wipers, and interrupter contacts adapted to be opened upon the energization of each of said magnets and to be closed upon its deenergization, the interrupter contacts in each switch being included in an operating circuit of the associated stepping magnet in the same switch and in an operating circuit of the stepping magnet in the other switch whereby the stepping magnets are simultaneously energized upon the closure of the interrupter contacts in either switch and simultaneously deenergized upon the opening of the interrupter contacts in both switches to step the wipers of the switches in unison.

3. The combination of a pair of step by step switches, each provided with a plurality of wipers and a stepping magnet therefor, means responsive to the energization and deenergization of each stepping magnet for stepping the wipers, and interrupter contacts interacting with each stepping magnet, the interrupter contacts in each switch being included in an operating circuit of the associated stepping magnet in the same switch and in an operating circuit of the stepping magnet of the other switch whereby the stepping magnets are simultaneously energized upon the closure of the interrupter contacts in either switch and simultaneously deenergized upon the joint opening of the interrupter contacts in the several switches to step the wipers of the switches in unison, and means for holding the wipers of the several switches in fixed angular relation.

4. The combination of a pair of step by step switches, each provided with a plurality of wipers, a spindle carrying said wipers and a stepping magnet therefor, means responsive to the energization and deenergization of the stepping magnet for stepping the wipers, and interrupter contacts interacting with each stepping magnet,

the interrupter contacts in each switch being inthe interrupter contacts in the several switches to step the wipers of the switches in unison, and coupling means connecting the spindles of said switches to hold the wipers carried thereby in fixed angular relation.

HAROLD P. MIXER.

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