US2149699A - Three-way switch - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1939. c. F. JAMES ET AL THREE-WAY SWITCH Filed Nov. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 sA/vuEL 0 6) March 7, 1939.

C. F. JAMES ET AL THREE-WAY SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1956 Ill/lg 4 N m m C M Patented Mar. 7,' i939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THREE-WAY SWITCH Charles F. James and John H. Buckley, Beards Fork, and Samuel Dlmltuckley, Alloy, W. Va.

Application November 9, 1536, Serial No. 109,956 4 Claims. (Cl. 260-998) This invention relates to three-way switches, corners the upstanding electro-magnets H, these and has for one of its objects the production of a magnets ll being arranged in triangular formasimple and efiicient three-way switch having the tion, as illustrated clearly in Figures 1 and 3.

contact arms thereof arranged in radiating tri- Adjacent each electro-magnet II is mounted an angular relation for contact with terminals also upstanding terminal bracket l2, each upstanding" arranged in triangular relation whereby when one terminal bracket l2 carrying a terminal shoe I3 contact arm is movedtoacontacting position the which is removably secured to the bracket l2 other arms will be positively lifted or moved to through the medium of securing bolts I4, so that an open or contact-breaking position. the shoe I3 may be replaced when desired. A

A further object of this invention is the proconducting wire I5 is electrically connected to 10 duction of a three-way switch, the radiating arms each magnet H, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, of which are provided with yieldably mounted these wires [5 leading to a common terminal '16, contact fingers so constructed as to prevent the which terminal may be connected in any suitformation of an arc when contact is made by able or desired manner to accnvex electrical lead.

16 providing a wiping or rocking contact between Each magnet H is also connected to its com- 18 the contact fingers and their respective terminals. panion terminal bracket l2 by means of a con- Another object of this invention is the producting wire ll, asclearly shown in the drawing. duction of a three-way switch having a plurality The insulated base plate l0 supports a cenof radiating arms connected at their inner ends trally located upstanding tubular standard 18,

20 and rockably and releasably mounted so that which standard i8 is located centrally of the 20 when one arm is in acontacting position the other group of magnets H, the, magnets ll being in arms will be lifted to an open position and whereother words grouped about the central standard by the arms may be rotated to a shifted position l8 and equally spaced from each other and from Y so that access may be had to the operating magthe standard. The standard i8 is preferably annets. chored to the base by meansof suitable anchor- 25 Other objects and advantages of the present ing bolts l9 and the standard may be either supinvention will appear throughout the following ported directly upon the base plate ID or supspecification and claims. ported upon an additional insulated plate 20, as

In the drawings:- shown in Figure 5. Figure 1 is a top plan view of the three-way A three-way switch member ii is supported 30 switch; upon the standard l8 and preferably comprises Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure three radiating arms 22 which arms are arranged shown in Figure 1; v in triangular relation, two of the arms being so Figure 3 is a top plan view of the three-way arranged as to extend to the opposite side of the 3;, switch, showing the contact arms shifted to allowcentral axis of the switch member 2| with reaccess tothe electro-magnets, .a portion of the 'spect to the remaining arm, as shown clearly in base being broken away; I Figure 1. The switch member 2! rests upon'the Figure 41s a side elevation of the switch whereupper end of the standard l8 and is normally held in all threeterminals are illustrated; firmly upon the standard against accidental dis- Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken placement by means of a tension spring 23 which 40 on line 5-5 Figure 1; is anchored at its lower end upon a pin 24 carried Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view of one pornear the lower end of the standard l8, the upper tion of the contact arm, certain portions thereof end of the spring being secured to the switch being shown in section including a portion of the member H, as at 25. The switch member 2| is 45 supporting standard; preferably provided with av'depending collar 25 45 Figure 7 is a top plan view of a portion of the which fits into the upper end of the hollow standswitch ar ard I8 and tends to hold the arm against acci- Figure 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section dental shifting, the collar 26 also constituting a taken on line 8-8 of Figure 3; and socket for the upper end of the spring 23. The

0 Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on standard l8 may, if desired, be provided with a line 9-9 of Figure 5. plurality of apertures 21 to permit the tension of By referring to the drawings it will be seen that the spring 23 to be adjusted. The standard l8 l0 designates the triangular base plate which is carries a plurality of upstanding pins 28 which expreferably formed of insulating material upon tend through enlarged sockets 29 formed in which base plate It! is supported near each of its switch member. 2|, the sockets being of suificient 55 size and shape to allow the g witch member to rock from side to side, as showh'in Figure 6, without displacing the switch member 2i, the spring 23 providing suflicient tension to prevent the switch member from accidentally'jum'ping off the upper end of the standard I8.

Each arm 22 is provided with a depending show portion at its outer end in a position to nor-'- mally overhang one of the magnets I I, a separate magnet being provided in aligned position with respect to the outer end of the arms 22. Each arm 22 also carries upon its upper face a pair of parallel spring fingers 3! which project outwardly with respect to the outer ends of the arms 22, and these fingers 3| carry upon their under faces laminated strips of metal 32 of high conductivity, such as copper and the like, which, strips 32 are so-mounted as to allow the fingers 3! to freely flex through the medium of the crimped portion 33. A contact shoe at is carried by the outer end of each finger 3i and this shoe 37 is preferably supported upon the inner end portion of each finger 35 through which the anchoring screws 38 pass for firmly holding the fingers 3i in engagement with the arms 22; It is importantto note that the shoes 34 are provided with a rounded under face 39 to present a rounded contact nose for engagement with the contact shoe l3 supported upon its companion terminal bracket l2. Consequently, as the switch member is swung to a contacting position, the

.rounded nose or underface 39 of the shoe 3% will provide a wiping contact upon the upper face of the shoe l3 due to the shape of the shoe 3d,

and the fact that the shoe 34 is flexibly supported, as described above. This will prevent the forming of an are at the point of contact between the shoes Stand l3 both atthetime the contact is made and when the contact is broken, a rocking action takingplace in each instance due to the shape of the under face of the shoe 38 and the flexible supporting means of this shoe 341. This feature is of great importance in a switch of this character, particularly in view of the fact thatthe elimination of all arcs and sparks at the point of contact.

As is shown in the drawings, the arms 22 are arranged in triangular relation and are preferably three in number, the arms being so arranged as to cause only one contact to be made I at a time and when one arm is thrownto a conthe rocking action of the switch member making it impossible for more than one arm to provide an electrical contact. The switch member 25 is electrically connected to a terminal plate fit, which plate do is connected to a flexible conductor strip ti extending to a clamp 62 carried by a supporting bracket 3 anchored upon the base It. A lead wire 6 3 is in turn connected to the bracket (33 to provide a terminal or leadout for the circuit, the terminal it providing the opposite side of the line. i

A suitable feed wire 55 is connected to each terminal bracket l? by being secured-'to' ofne of the securing bolts t of the intake brackets l2,

which brackets it constitute intake gterminal posts, the wire 44 leading to the supporting bracket 43 constituting, an outlet terminal and the bracket 43 constituting an outlet terminal post.

It should be understood that the parallel fingers 3i carried by each arm 22 will provide a flexible contact means, each of the spring fingers 39 carrying its own shoe 34, as described and illustrated.

The contact member 3|, as illustrated and as previously described, is not only rockably mounted upon the upper end of the standard l8 but is removably mounted theron so that the contact member may be lifted up from the pins 28 in order that the contact member may be positioned, as shown in Figure 3, the arms '22 extending in between the magnets ll, thereby facilitating access to the magnets for the purpose of replacenient, repair or adjustment.

The operation of the device is as follows:-'- As one magnet H is energized, one of the arms 22 will be drawn down or attracted by the magnot from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 6, this causing the contact shoes carried by the fingers iii of this arm to contact with its companion shoe is .carriedby the supporting bracket 52. When this action talres place, the rearwardly extending and radiating arms 22 of the switch member 26 will be elevated or moved upwardly away from the respectivecompanion contact shoes it, in this way insuring a contact only upon one arm, the other arms being positively and definitely lifted to a non-contacting or open position as will be oovious. In this way the respective magnets. ll may be selectively energized to draw the'selected arm 22 to acontacting position and for the reagroups of threes arranged in triangular relation, it will be noted that two of the armsare at all times extended'to the opposite side of the central axis of the contact member with respect to the third arm, in this way providing the positive lifting action of two of the arms to an open position when the third arm is in a contacting positlon. This is provided for through the rocking mounting of the switch member 2i upon the standard it anddue to the wiping contact provided by the shoes 34, it should be understood also that'the danger'of forming an are at the point of contact will be eliminated and the sticking of the shoestd or the shoes l3 will be eliminated by the flexible mounting of the shoes 3 upon the arms -22,'a rocking action being provided for the shoestt both at the time when the son that the arms are preferably arranged in shoes move to a contacting position and also 55 vwhen the shoes are moved to a circuit-breaking position. r 7

It should be understood that the current will enter through one of the wires '55 to one of the brackets l2, through one of the leads ll, thro i h one of the magnets ll out through one of t e leads it to the terminal and then to the negative side of the line. The enlarged depending end 363 of one of the arms 22 will be attracted by this energizing magnet licensing the contact of its shoes 35 with the shoes 53 of the bracket 52, and the current through the medium of contact will pass through the arm 22 of the switch mom er 2!! and out through the members at, ill and line 35. The other'magnets may be E'G selectivelyenergized for causing a selective contact for the other arms.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction, combination and arrangement of parts may he emig I us Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A switch of the class described comprising a base, a supporting standard carried by said base, a contact member having-a plurality of extending arms, a plurality of parallel spring fingers carried by and extending outwardly from the outer end of each arm in side by side relation to each other, flexible conducting strips extending from the arms under the spring'fingers and secured to the arms and the fingers, a shoe carried by the outer end of each finger and having a rounded nose upon its lower face to provide wiping contact, electro-magnets cooperating with said arms for swinging the arms to a contacting position, and intake terminals adapted to contact with said shoes, the shoes because 01' said spring fingers and its shape providing aiwiping contact with the intake terminal.

2. A switch of the class described comprising a base, a supporting standard carried by said base,.a contact member rockably carried by said standard and having a plurality of e tending arms, a plurality of parallel spring fingers extending from the outer end of each arm, flexible abase,astan dardcarried conducting strips extending under the spring fingers, a shoe carried by the outer end of each finger and having a rounded nose upon its .lower face to provide wiping contact, electro-magnets cooperating with said arms for selectively swinging the arms to a contacting position, an intake terminal adapted to contact, with each shoe, each shoe because of its spring fingers and its shape providing a wiping contact with the companion intake terminal, and each shoe having a transverse rib upon its upper face abutting against the outer end of the cooperating strips, and fingers tor. holding the shoe in proper alignment.

3.' A switch or the class described comprising by said base, a pluti'on aronndsaid standard, a contact member radiating'armsextendinginh'i-o angular relation with respect to each other, said standard having upstanding pins at its upper end, said contact member having enlarged apertures for receiving said pins whereby the contact member may be rocked upon said standard and at the same time be held against accidental displacement, spring means for yieldably holding said contact member stationary extending longitudinally in the standard and having its upper ,end secured to the contact, an anchor for the lower end of said spring, adjustably carried by the standard, an intake terminal located adjacent each magnehmeans ,carried by each arm -,for forming a contact with one of the selected intake terminals'as one of the selected magnets is energized, said contact member having a depending collar fitting within said standard for allowing free rocking. movement of the contact member upon the standard, and at the same time preventing lateral displacement of the contact member with respect to the standard.

4. A switch of the class described comprising a base, a hollow centrally located standard carried by said base, a plurality of electro-magnets grouped about said standard in triangularrelation, a contact member .rockably supported upon the upper end of said standard, a coil spring con-'- nected to said contact member and e down into said standard longitudinally thereof, openings being formed in walls of the standard and spaced from each other longitudinally thereof for adiustably anchoring the lower end oi said spring within said-standard for yieldably holding said contact member against displacement upon the upper end of the standard, said anchoring means consisting of a pin engaged by the spring and extending transversely through the standard and engaged in selected ones of the openings, means for anchoring the contact member against lateral shitting, intake terminals carried by the base, and contact means carried by said contact member for contacting with said intake terminals. 1

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