US2166803A - Momentary contact push switch - Google Patents

Description

July 18, 1939. F; c. DEj- EAME MOMENTARY CONTACT pfisa SWITCH.

Filed July 29; 1936 P o m e V m.

Frank C. De Reamer- His Attorney.

Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frank C. De Reamer, Bridgeport, Coma, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 29, 1936, Serial No. 93,237

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to push button operated electric switches.

The object of my invention is to provide animproved construction and arrangement in switches of this type, and, for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an electric switch embodying my invention; Fig. 2 .is a sectional elevation taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the switch; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the switch; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modiflcation; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing the manner of assembling the terminal.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown my invention applied to a switch having a housing I of molded insulating material having bosses 2 at opposite sides thereof. In the upper faces of the bosses are recesses 2 for receiving terminals 4 which comprise V-shaped metal strips with the sides 5 of the V pressed tightly together. At the junction of the sides of the V the terminals are provided with openings through which extend the bored ends 6 of stranded line conductors I. With this arrangement the bared ends of the conductors are fanned out and forced into firm electrical contact with the sides 5 of the terminals when the sides of the terminals are clamped together. From another aspect, the terminals 4 can be considered as a strip having one end 5 folded over the other, there being an opening in the strip intermediate its ends through which the bored end of a conductor is inserted and held in place by pressing the ends of the strip togetheni. -.-The terminals are held in the recesses 3 by projections I on the terminals which fit into depressions 9 in the recesses. The

upper end of the housing is closed by a sheet or member ID of insulating material which is provided with ears H extending over the bosses 2. When the member III is secured to the top of the housing, the ears Ii clamp the terminals securely in the recesses 3 and also increase the clamping eifect of the sides of the terminals on the bared ends of the conductors thereby providing a connection between the terminals and the conductors which does not require soldering. The member I0 is secured to the top of the housing by a metal plate 12 having tangs l3 which are bent over a bead M at the top of the housing. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, tangs l3 engage the sides of the bosses 2 and locate the metal plate I? on top of the housing. The tangs I 3 also exat the upper end of the reduced portion tend on either side of. the ears II and thereby prevent turning of the member ID with respect to the housing. The conductors I are supported by an arm We on the plate 12. The conductors are first drawn tightly against the switch housing and are secured tothe arm l2a by ears l2b which are folded over the conductors. The metal plate I2 is secured to the lower end of a. threaded sleeve l by spun-over portions IS. The switch may be mounted by extending the sleeve through a support and by clamping the support between nuts I! threaded on the sleeve.

In the sleeve I5 is apush button which com-' prises a .drawn tubular metal shell IS, the closed end of the shell projecting beyond the sleeve l5 where it may be engaged by the operator, and the tubular body portion of the shell being .slidable in the sleeve. Within the shell I8 is an operating rod or spindle 19 which is secured therein by a washer 2i wedged into the shell. The operating rod has a head 2| which provides a shoulder 22 co-operating with the washer to hold the operating rod in place. The lower end of the operating rod is guided in an opening 23 in the member Hi. There is sufllcient clearance between the washer and the operating rod, and between the head 2! of the operating rod and the end of the shell It, so that the operating rod may have a limited angular movement in the shell, or, viewed from another aspect, the operating rod is free to swivel in the push button. The swiveling of the operating rod prevents binding of the operating rod in the guiding opening 23 in case the member II is assembled so that this opening is not in exact alignment with the operating rod. The operating rod l9 projects below the member ID and the projecting end is provided with a reduced portion 24 on which is loosely carried a washer 25 of insulating material. The washer 25 is held in place by turning over the end oi the operating rod to form a flange so that the washer fits loosely between the flange and the shoulcie: Around the periphery of the washer is a metal rim 26 which serves as a bridging contact which co-operates with the inner ends of terminals 4 to complete an electric circuit between the terminals.

The push button is biased to the outer position shown in Fig. 2 by a coil spring 21 which is arranged around the operating rod and between the member ID and the washer 20. The spring biases the push button outwardly so that the metal rim 2B is normally held against the terminals 4 to complete a circuit between the terminals. There is suiilcient clearance between the washer 2' and the groove 24 so that the metal rim It can align itself with the terminals and thereby provide uniiorm contact with the terminals. The circuit between the terminalsis broken by pushing the push button inward.

The switch shown in Figs. .1 to 4 inclusive is I 01' the type in which the circuit through the switch is normally closed. In Fig. 5 is shown a modification or the switch in which the circuit through the switch is normally open.

The construction of the switch shown in Pig. 5 is identical with the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive except for the construction of the terminals, the stationary contacts, and the push button and the identical parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. The terminals comprise angular metal strips II. the upper ends of which at within the depressions l, andthe. lower ends of which serve as solder lugs which are soldered to the bared ends i o! the line conductors 'l. Theupperendsoi thestripstlaresecuredto contacts Ii which ilt in grooves in the switch 4 housing. At the bottom the contacts are provided with astepped portion 38 which is arranged to cooperate with the contact II on the lower end of the operating rod Ii. Between the head II of the operating rod and the end of the shell II is a coil spring 84. This spring normally holds the shoulder 22 of the operating rod against the washer II, but permits the operating rod to move upwardly in the push button when the resistance oii'ered to further movement of the operating rod exceeds the tension of the spring. The push button is normally held in the position illustrated by the coil spring 21 which isarranged between the member II and the washer ll.

In this position the contact it is held against the underside oi the member II and the circuit between'the contacts ii is open. when the push button is pushed inward the contact I. is moved into engagement with the stepped portions 33 of the contacts ll, thereby completing the circuit between the contacts. During the initial movement 5 of the push button the spring 34 is not compressed and the operating rod occupies the position in the push button illustrated. As soon as the contact pressure between the contacts ll and 33 exceeds the tension 0! the spring 84 the operat- 10 mg rod moves upwardly with respect to the push button. The spring 8|. therefore. provides a cushion between the operating rod and the push button, which limits the contact pressure between the contacts I. and 38.

whatlclaimasnewanddesiretosecureby 1 LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. In an electric switch, a housing of insulating material, a sleeve secured to said housing. a

member of insulating material clamped between a said sleeve and said housing. recesses in said housing adjacent said member. terminals clamped in said'recess by said member. and a spindle uided in said sleeve and said member of insulating material carrying contacts cooperating with u said terminals.

2. In an electric switch, a housing oi insulating material, a sleeve secured to said housing. a member of insulating material clamped between said sleeve and said housing, recesses in said so housing adjacent said member, terminals clamped in said recess and projecting within the housing, the upper sides thereof being in contact with the under side of said member, and a spindle guided in said sleeve carrying contacts'below said terniig;

nals movable upward into engagement with the under sides or the terminals.

FRANK C. DE mum.

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