US2121569A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

' June 21 '.1. G. PEE'RSON 23213559 ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed may 5, i934 @gi l figg. 2. i233.

Patented June 21, 1938 UNlTEDsTATr-:fs

PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

; My invention relates to electric switches. It has for its object to provide an improved electric switch, and, more particularly, an improved snap switch of the type shown in my prior :,1' patent, No. 1,894,002, and adapted to control a plurality of circuits such, for example, as the circuits of a heating pad or-the like. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved switch of this character which is markedly more lo' compact than previous switches oi this type, and thereby especially adapted to use as a through switch connected in the conductors of a heating pad. all in such manner as to reduce Substantially the annoyance or discomfort of a user inadveris tently rolling upon the through switch when the heating pad is in use. Further objects of inv invention are to provide improved switch unit and through switch constructions which, while havlnggthe advantages aforesaid and also being en- 20 tirely safe, and very convenient in operation, are

also adapted to be substantially more economically produced than previousswitches of this type. 'Ihese and other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however, here- -it-i inafter more fully appear.

members, the switch unltbeing-remcved therefrom;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig- 40 ure y i Figure 5 is a sectional view on line l--l of Figure 1; Y n v Figure 6 is a plan view of the switch unit removed from the one of the insulating plates also being removed to facilitate illustration:

, Figure I is a side elevation of the mechanism shown inv Figure 6 when viewed from the lefthand sideoi that figure, the actuating 'member being shown ,as centrally disposed;

.Figure-84s a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 6 with the swinging elements also lifted dittov facilitate illustration;

v Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showing the inside face of the cooperating insulating plate shown in Fig. 1 but removed in Figs. 6-8;

Figure 10 is a seriesof detail perspective views of the swinging elements of the switch;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view through 5 the switch actuating parts, showing the movable elements thereof in one position, and

Figure 12 is a view similar vto Figure 11, but showing the parts in another position.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown 10 my improved switch enclosed in cooperating casing members I and 2 of a usual longitudinally divided through switch type and having my improved switch mechanism therebetween and operable by an actuating member 3 movable in a 15 slot I longitudinally oi the casing members from the "off" position yoi' the same illustrated in Figure 1, in the same direction into the several on"y positions indicated in dotted lines in that ligure. and then reversely movable to return to the full 2o -line position illustrated; the switch mechanism herein including a unit having spaced insulating plates 5 and B connected by connecting members 1 at their ends and, respectivelyl carrying a terminal plate 8 and through connection.. 8, and a 25 plurality of terminal plates I0 and li, each provided with usual binding screws, while the switch mechanism between the plates is improved as hereinafter more fully appears.

Referring more' particularly to this switch 30 mechanism, it will be noted that herein the terminal H is connected through a rivet I2 with one of a pair of oppositely extending extensions Il similarly riveted to the plate B and formed on one extremity of a metal conducting plate il 35 having an aperture I5 therein adjacent one edge of the insulating plates l and i and in which and registering apertures in the latter plates the pivot pin of the switch, herein a stud i8. is disposed in .such manner as to produce a' very compact 40 construction as will hereinafter appear. Herein also this plate .I4 isl provided with a narrow inclined spring portionv l1 extending toward the 'opposite edge of the plates 5,. l ,and having an elongated end portion lll, substantially midway 45 between the plate edges, extending to opposite sides of the portion I1 and provided with a series of apertures I9 therein, herein four in number. As shown, each of these apertures i8 has beveled walls 2| and the apertures are disposed in an arc 50 struck from the stud Il as an axis, as clearly 'appears in Figure 8. The portion I8 further is normally disposed in elevated position .spaced above the insulating plate 6, as shown in Figure r` 5. `Cooperating with the series of cams thus prof-55 insulating plate I by a metal washer 2l'. Herein' will be noted that the body or shank 2l 0f thisv member 2. herein of metal, is also provided with an aperture in its inner end registering with the aperture Il and receiving the stud Il so that the actuating member 2 is freely movable with the member 2| about this stud as a pivot. Moreover, it will be noted that the member 2| is pro- `vided with a vertical end portion 2l at right angles to the body portion thereof carrying the projection 22 and at the vopposite end thereof from the latter, and also with a top portion 26 parallel to the body portion, but shorter than the latter and herein spaced from the adiacent also, both the body of member 2| and this pox'- tion 2l are provided with registering apertures 22 through which the stud Il also extends. Also. it will be noted that the portion 24 is provided with an opening 21, herein of substantially rectangular form, Athrough which the adjacent extremity 22 of the actuating member body 22 extends, while adjacent shoulders 22 engage the inner edges of the opening 21, in such manner that, when the actuating member 2 is moved about its pivot on the stud Il, the member 2| is caused to be swung therewith.

operatively associated with the actuating means dcribed is also improved contact means movable therewith. Herein. this contact means comprises a plurality of separate contact members '22 and 22 of identic construction but oppositely disposed, one above and the other below the shank 22 of the actuating member 2. As shown, each of these contact members is also provided with an aperture 2| near the non-contact carrying end thereof and through which the stud I2 is extended. while each of the same is also provided with a shouldered projection 22 on its adiacent extremity also extending through the opening 21 in the member 2l. Also, it will be observed that these lcontact members extend outward along the shank 22 of the actuating member 2 and between the body of the member 2| and this shank in the case of the member 22. and between the portion 2l on the member 2| and the shank 22 in the case of the member 22. Moreover. it will be noted that each is provided with an outwardly deflected or inclined contact carrying portion 22, carrying a contact 2| on the member 22. and an oppositely--disposed contact 2l on the member 2B, both of which contacts are herein disposed and movable in a narrow arc between the portion Il on the member Il and the actuating end of the actuating member '2 and also within and closely adjacent the edges of the insulating plates l and I. Cooperating with these movable contacts 24 and 2l are also improved stationary contacts carried on the insulating plates l and l. Herein, when the actuating member 2 is in its "oi! position, illustrated in Figures l, 2, and 6, neither contact 2l nor 2l will, of ccurse. engage a cooperating stationary contact. However, when the member 2 is moved down therefrom to the mst adjacent dotted line position shown in Figure l,

the movable contact 25 will engage a stationary contact 2l on the plate l, herein in the form of a rivet connecting the terminal Il to the plate 2. Further, when moved from this position down into the next, or second. dotted line position, shown in Figure l, the other contact will engage a similar stationary contact 21 on the plate i, herein spaced from the contact 22 and also comprising a rivet but connecting the terminal plate 2 to the plate l. AWillen moved still further down into the bottom dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the contact 2l will engage a like contact rivet 22 while the contact 2i will engage a like contact rivet 22, these two stationary contacts 2l. 22 being on the plates l and l. respectively, and being simultaneously engaged, whereas the contacts 22 and 21 are alternately engaged. Thus, with current supplied from the terminal plate Il through the rivet I2 to the plate il and through the latter and the associated metal parts to the contacts 22 and 2l, it will be evident that current will be distributed in such manner that a pad having a through connection connected to the binding posts on the terminals 2, I2.

and Ii, will be successively connected for low, medium or high heating as the actuating member 2 moves downward through the three dotted positions indicated in Figure 1.

As regards the through connection 2. it willalso be noted that herein the same is disposed on the outer face of the insulating plate l and between a protruding end of the stud |2 and the edge oi' the plate 5 which is remote from the actuating member 2. Further, it will also be noted that the portion of this through connection adjacent the stud is quite narrow, in such manner as to enable it to be adequately spaced from the stud, while it will also be noted that the outer edge of this narrow portion is spaced from the outer edge of the insulating plate. The opposite ends of this member 2, are, however, en larged and carry usual binding posts at their extremities, while between these binding postsand the narrow portion mentioned, rivets 2l are provided. riveting the through connection to the insulating plate; the inner ends of these rivets herein also being amply spaced from the portion 2l on the member 2| in all positions ofthe latter.

In connection with the casing, it will be noted that the upper casing member 2 is substantially of the longitudinal and transverse ribbed construction shown in my prior patent mentioned. save that the aperture 42 for receiving the end of the stud II is displaced substantially at one side of the longitudinal axisof the casing, as distinguished from being closely adjacent that axis, as in my prior construction. It will also be understood that the casing is oi substantially identic construction with the casing 2 save that, instead of the single transverse rib 4| on casing i, which is engageable with the lower right hand corner of the insulating base l (Figure l) where there is no binding screw, two such ribs are provided on casing 2 to engage the two like andl diagonally opposite corners on plate I shown in Figure 2, all in -such manner as to locate the unit in position while preventing i'ncorrect assembly thereof in the casing. Both casing members, as previously described, are also provided with upstanding members l2 at the ends of theirjongitudinal extending rib and are connectible in a usual manner by screws I2 receivable ln these portions I2, while the latter portions also function to locate the switch unit in position, as ilmsm, it wm be evident that in each' of the various positions of the member 3, the projection 22 will be disposed in an aperture I9, as shown in Figure 12; the spring portion I8 then being raised and spaced from the insulating plate 6 as shown in that figure, which, for example, illustrates the parts in the position which they would occupy in the rst dotted position corresponding to low heat. While the parts will be held in this position due to the resiliency of the plate I8, it will be evident that when the member 3 is moved to swing the member 2l4 and projection 22 about the stud I B, the projection 22 will ride up the inclined side 20 of the aperture I9 then occupied and force the spring plate I 8 down as'shown in Figure 11. As a result of the lateral pressure on the actuating member and the inclined side 20, the pointed end of the projection 22 will also be forced over the space between the apertures so that the projection 22 will seatin the next aperture I9 as the plate I8 again moves up. This, since the contacts 34 and 35 must move with the member 2I and the actuating member 3, results in a quick or snap movement of these contacts from one position into another. Thus, as the member 3 is moved through the positions illustrated in Figure 1, the contacts 34 and 35 will both be simultaneously'thrown with a snap action following each actuation of the member 3, the

contact 35 eng ing first the contact 36 and breaking contact herewith beforethe contact 34 engages the contact 31, and the contact 34 breaking contact with the contact 31 before both contacts 34 and 35 simultaneously engage contacts as and as.

As a result of my improved construction, while obtaining a safe and effective -switch of the general type described and claimed in my previous Patent No. 1,894,002, it has been made possible to utilize only a single spring cam plate and a single movable cam cooperating therewith and a much more simple structure oi' contacts. Further, through the use of my improved, more compact mechanism having the stud I6 and parts I8 and 2|, etc. located as described, it is made possible to reduce the size of the switch unit very substantially, approximately 20%, and similarly substantially reduce the necessary size of the casing members enclosing the switch unit. As a result of this construction, it is also made possible to reduce the cost of the switches by from approximately 20% to 25%, this reduction in cost being due not only to the improved and simplied switch mechanism structure and to the smaller size of the switch unit, but also to'an even larger extent due to the smaller size of the casing which may be used in connection with the latter. These and other advantages of my improved construction Will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. l

While I have, in this application, speciiically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form is shown for illustrative purposes, and that the structure may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. a

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

1. In an electricl switch, a pivoted actuating lever, snap actuating means actuated by said lever comprising cooperating resilient and swinging cam elements both external of the contines of said lever and both disposed on the same side of said lever, and stationary and movable contact means including movable contact 4means actuated by said snap actuating means, said snap actuating means and movable contact means being disposed between the pivot for said lever and the free end of said lever in concentric arcs within the zone of a limited swing of said lever.

2. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating lever, snap actuating means actuated thereby comprising cooperating resilient and swinging cam elements both disposed externally of the connes of said lever and between the pivot for said lever and the free end of said lever, and contact means comprising a series of stationary contacts and a pair of cooperating movable contacts movable relative to said lever and actuated in unison by said snap actuating means and disposed between the latter and the free end of 'said lever.

3. Inan electric switch, a pivotedv actuating lever, contact means including a movable contact at one side of said lever and between the pivot and the free end of the lever and movable with said lever, and snap actuating means for said contact -actuated upon lever movement and disposed between the pivot and the free end of said lever upon the opposite side of said contact from said lever comprising a resilient member having spaced cam means and co-operating swinging cam means movable progressively thereover as said lever swings.

4. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating lever, a. series of resiliently mounted cams dis- .posed around the axis thereof between the lever pivot and the free end thereof, a cooperating actuating cam movable with said lever, 'and contact means including a resiliently mounted contact member disposed between the pivot o! said lever andthe free end thereof and actuated to tact member from said lever and movable toward and from said actuating lever upon movement thereof.

5. In an electric switch, a base, a pivoted actuating lever pivo-ted adjacent one edge thereof and having one end projecting beyond the oppober for operating 'said movable contact means from said lever and having a cam cooperating with said series of cams.

6. In an electric switch, a base, a pivoted actuating lever thereon, a spring plate having a portion thereof normally spaced from said base and between the latter and said lever and having a plurality of cam means on said portion disposed around said pivot, cooperating cam means movable in unison with said actuating lever and between said plate and lever, and cooperating movable and stationary contacts on said lever and base, said plate having its spaced portion movable toward and from said base between the latter and said lever as said actuating lever moves ing an elongated insulating member receivable in a through switch casing, an actuating member pivoted on said insulating member substantially midway between the ends of the latter and adjacent one lateral edge thereof and having an operating end projecting from and movable along the opposite edge. thereof, movable contact means movable by said actuating member along and adjacent said opposite edge and also movable relative to said actuating member, stationary contacts along and adjacent said opposite edge, and snap actuating means for said movable contact means between said stationary contacts and the member pivot and actuated upon movement oi said actuating member.

8. In a switch, a plurality of elongated spaced insulating plates, an actuating member pivoted therebetween substantially midway between the ends thereof and arUacent one lateral edge thereof and having an operating end projecting from the opposite edge thereof, contacts adjacent saidA opposite edge, and snap actuating means actu-4 ated by said actuating member, said contacts comprising stationary contacts on different plates and movable contacts having an operative connection with said snap actuating means and alternately and then simultaneously engaging stationary contacts on diierent plates.

9. Movable switch mechanism for an electric switch -comprising a holder member movable about a pivot and having an end aperture therein, a lever movable about said pivot and projecting into said aperture and interlocked with said holder for conjoint movement therewith, and contact members above and below said lever also movable about said pivot and having portions projecting into said aperture and thereby interlocked with said lever.

l0. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating member, pivoted and cooperating contact members including a pivoted contact member movable about the pivot of said actuating member, means tor interlocking said actuating member and pivoted contact member for movement about said pivot, and mechanism for actuating said movable contact member upon actuation of said actuating member comprising cam means having a plurality of spaced cams and cooperating cammeans engageable with said spaced cams, one of said cam means swinging with said actu-f ating member and the other cam means being resiliently mounted to impart a snap action to said movable contact member.

11. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating member, pivoted and -cooperating contact members including a pivoted contact member movable about the pivot of said actuating member, means for linterlocking said actuating member and pivoted contactl member for movement about said pivot, and mechanism for actuating. said movable contact member upon actuation oi' said actuating member comprising cam means having a plurality o! spaced cams and cooperating cam means engageable with said spaced cams, one oi.' said .cam means swinging with said actuating member land the other cam means being resiliently mounted to impart a snap action to said movable contact member, said pivoted con- 4 .interlocked with said actuating member.

12. In an electric switch, a pivoted actuating member, pivoted and cooperating contact members including a pivoted contact member movable about the pivot of said actuating member, means for interlocking said actuating member and pivoted contact member for movement about said pivot, mechanism for actuating said movable contact member upon actuation of said actuating member vcomprising cam means having a plurality of spaced cams and cooperating cam means engageable with said spaced cams, one oi said cam means swinging with said actuating member and the other cam means being resiliently mounted'to impart a snap action to said movable contact member, a second contact member likewise movable about said 'pivot and actuated by said actuating mechanism, and cooperating contact means engaged by said second contact member in a predetermined position of said ilrst mentioned contact member.

13. A movable switch member for snap switches comprising a holder member movable about a pivot and having an aperture therein, a pivoted switch actuating lever having a portion projecting into said aperture and thereby interlocked withA said holder for joint movement therewith, and a pivoted contact member at one sideof said lever also having a portion projecting into said aperture and thereby interlocked with said holder for joint movement with the latter and said lever. f

' 14. A movable switch member for snap switches comprising a pivoted holder member having an aperture therein and also having cam means formed thereon, a pivoted switch actuating lever having a portion projecting into said aperture and thereby interlocked with said holder for joint movement therewith, and a pivoted contact member located at one side of said lever and between the latter and the cam means of said holder member also having an interlocking portion projecting into said aperture and thereby interlocked with said holder for joint movement with the latter and said lever.

15. A movable switch member for snap switches comprising a pivoted holder member having an aperture therein at one side of its pivot, a switch actuating lever pivoted adjacent one end having a portion adjacent its pivdted end projecting into said aperture and thereby interlocked with said holder for joint movement therewith, said holder member also having cam means disposed alongside said lever on the opposite side of its pivot from said projecting portion, and a pivoted contact member located between said lever and cam member and having a portion projecting into the aperture in said holder member and thereby interlocked with the latter for Joint movement with the latter and' said lever and having a contact portion disposed -between the cam means on said holder member and the free end oi' said lever.

JOHANN G. PETERSON.

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