US2244326A - Circuit controller - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1941 H. L. BONE ETAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed April 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 3, 1941. H, BONE ETAL 2,244,326 I cIRcUIT CONTROLLER Filed April 13, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 Fig. .5.

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lNvENToRS Herben .one, M'll'am ,.Smlfh and Q0 A. 11700019.

THEIR ATTORNE Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Pennsylvania Application April 13, 1939, Serial No. 267,684

Claims.

Our invention relates to circuit controllers, and particularly to manually operable circuit controllers adapted to be assembled on a control panel as one of a group of similar units for controlling railway traflc controlling devices such as railway track switches or signals.

Circuit controllers embodying our invention are particularly well adapted for, but not limited thereto, use in railway traflc controlling systems such as, for example, the system disclosed and claimed in the application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 118,609, iiled on December 31, 1936, by John M. Pelikan for Railway trailic controlling apparatus. Railway traffic controlling systems of the type disclosed in the aforesaid application Serial No. 118,609 have as an integral part thereof a control panel containing a diagram of the track layout and provided with a plurality of circuit controllers manually operable to two extreme positions and biased to an intermediate position, for controlling railway trafllc controlling devices such as switches and signals. In systems of the type described, it has been found necessary to mount a large number of these controllers on a panel suflciently small so as to enable the operator to see and operate each controller without shifting his position. It has also been found necessary that certain of the controllers be provided with means for indicating when the function which is to be effected by the controller is completed. It is readily apparent, therefore, that each controller and its associated indicator should occupy the least possible space, thereby permitting closer spacing of the controllers themselves and of the tracks shown in the track layout. Furthermore, it has been found necessary that each controller and associated indicator be readily accessible for repairs and replacements, thus requiring a unitary construction of the controller and indicator, whereby the unit as a whole is secured to the control panel but is readily removable therefrom with a minimum expenditure of time.

Accordingly, an object of our invention is the provision of novel and improved three-position circuit controllers which are manually operable to two extreme positions wherein in each position control contacts are selectively closed or opened, and which are biased to a position intermediate the two extreme positions.

Another object of our invention is the provision, in circuit controllers of the type described, of means for providing an indicator integral with such controller, in a manner such that the combination of the controller and its associated indicator requires no more panel space than is usually required for a three-position circuit controller of usual construction.

A further object of our invention is the provision, in a circuit controller of the type described provided with an indicator, of novel and improved means for detachably securing the circuit controller and its associated indicator to the control panel, thereby permitting the detachment of a controller and its associated indicator from the control panel as a unit, and permitting the attachment of that unit for another unit of the same type, with the control panel.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear as the specication progresses.

Specically, our invention relates to improvements in circuit controllers of the type described and claimed in an application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 123,014, filed January 29, 1937, by William E. Smith.

We shall describe two forms of circuit controllers embodying our invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing one form of circuit controller embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical elevational view of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are each sectional views taken substantially on the lines 3 3 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a top plan View, partially sectional, showing a modied form of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 1, and which modified form also embodies our invention. Fig. 6 is a. vertical elevation view of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical elevation view showing a contact stack arrangement adapted for use with the circuit controller shown in Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring rst to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the reference character 8 designates a base member provided at its forward end with an upturned leg 9 having an opening III, and provided on its rearward end with a spring member II. A bearing member I2 is secured to the upturned leg 9 of member 8, and is provided with a bearing boss extending through the opening I0 in the leg 9. Slidably mounted in the bearing member I2 for longitudinal sliding movement is a tubular operating member I3, the outer end of which is formed with an integral button I4 adapted to be grasped for manually operating the member, and the inner end of which is threaded into a split collar I5 forming a part of a moulded cam member I formed of insulating material. The spiit collar I5 is provided with two laterally extending lugs which when drawn together by a screw I? threaded therein locks operating member I3 to collar I5. The operating member I3 normally occupies the position shown in the drawings, but is adapted to be at times pushed inwardly from its normal position to one extreme position and at other times to be pulled outwardly from its normal position to another extreme position. The operation of member I3 to its eXtreme positions is adapted to selectively govern the opening and closing of control contacts provided for the circuit controller, in a manner to be described presently.

rEhe control contacts are provided for the circuit controller in a plurality of groups or stacks of contacts. here shown comprising two stacks in number, and designated by the reference characters Si and S2. These stacks are both secured to an insulating member I3 which in turn is secured by rivets i9 to the base member 8, and are each provided with two rows of contacts (shown in part in Figs. 2 and 3), which are substantially similar in construction so that only the upper or top row of contacts of each stack is visible in Fig. l. Furthermore, both stacks are constructed substantially similar to each other, so that the following description of the upper row of contacts of stack SI will suffice not only for the lower row oi contacts of that stack, but will suffice also to describe both the upper and lower rows of contacts of stack S2. Referring now to fig l wherein the upper row of contacts of stack .T SI may be best seen, this row comprises a plurality of superposed biocks to, Ib and E86, formed of insulating material and attached to member I3 by means of screws 2S. A iirst movable Contact member 2l is clamped between block 3a and member I3, and is provided on its outer end with an inwardly projecting return bend, the function of which will be made clear presently. A first iixed contact finger 23 is clamped between the blocks i3d and Ib, and is retained in its normal position by a relatively stiff metallic stop 24 which is also clamped between the two blocks lilo and Ih. The Contact 1Iingers ZI and 23 are so adjusted that when no outward thrust is exerted upon movable ringer 2 I, the parts will occupy the positions shown, in which position movable contact ringer 2! is out of engagement with its associated fiXed contact finger 23. The upper row of contacts of stack SI also is provided with a second aed Contact finger 25a clamped between insulating block Isc and member I8, and which finger constantly engages a projection provided on a contact member 32 carried by the cam member l. The screws 2@ are insulated from the various iingcrs and strips by means of insulated bushings which surround the screws. As was pointed out heretofore, the construction of each row of contact fingers of the stacks SI and S2 is substantially similar to the construction just described for upper row of contact iingers of stack SI, so lthat the lower row of Contact fingers of stack SI and the upper and lower rows of contact nns of stack. S2 will be provided each with a gagement with its associated fixed contact finger.`

Furthermore, each row of contacts of stack SI is provided with a second :[iXed Contact finger which assises being ad pted in the normal and eXtreme inward positions of the operating member I3, to exert an outward force on the return bends of the movable contact fingers of Contact stack S2, thereby operating those movable contact members into engagement with the associated fixed contact iingers. The other cam surface EI, provided on the cam i5, is adapted to exert an outward force on the return bends of the movable contact iingers of` contact stack SI, only in the eXtreme inward position ci the operating member, thereby operating the movable contact fingers of Contact stack Si (as for example contact nger 2i) into engagement with the associated fixed contact fingers (contact finger 2i engaging its associated contact finger in this position of the member I3). From the foregoing, it is obvious that when operating member I3 is in its extreme outward position, thc contacts of each stack controlled thereby are open; when operating member E3 is in its normal position, the contacts of one stack SI are open and the contacts of the other stack S2 arc closed; and when operating member I3 is in its extreme inward position, the contacts of each stack are closed. it follows, therefore, that cam member i selectively opens or closes the control contacts provided for the circuit controller in accordance with the position of operating member i3. It is to be understood, of course, that the specific contact stack arrangement may be varied to best suit the contact engagement required for each speciiic application of the circuit controller.

As was pointed out heretofore, cam member i is also provided with contact members such as contact members 32 and 33 shown in Fig. l, which engage. at all positions of the operating member I3, the respective second fixed contact fingers provided for the rows of contacts of stacks Si S2. The functions of the contacts constantly formed by the engagement oi the Contact fingers provided for member I5 with the second fixed contact ingers oi stacks SI and S2 will presently be made clear.

The operating member IE and the cam member Iii are each provided with means cooperating with each other for displaying an indication. As here shown, member I3 is provided with a glass rod lightly frosted on its extreme outer end, and extending through the operating member from one thereof to the other. The rod 35 is adapted to be illuminated at times by light rays from one or the other of a pair of indication lamps and 3l contained within partitioned recesses 3E and formed in cam member E5. The recesses 3E and 35i formed in member I6 are open at either end, the front end of each recess communicating with a common chamber d containing the inner end of the glass rod 35. The top and the other endI of the recesses are enclosed by a suitable plate ii formed with a leg portieri @-2. the main portion of plate II covering the top the recesses and being provided with suitable openings for ventilation thereof, while the lesr portion it closes the other or rear endof the recesses and is provided with an opening for each recess, into each opening of which a. bayonet type lamp socket is soldered. Electrical contact is established with the indication lamps, when such lamps are inserted in the above mentioned sockets, by means ofl the previously mentioned contact members provided for the cam member I6, and the secondfixed contact fingers provided for contact stacks SI and S2, one contact formed thereby being interposed in the circuit for one lamp socket, another contact formed thereby being interposed in the circuit for the other lamp socket, and the other contact formed thereby being interposed in the common connection of both sockets. Since the control circuits for lamps 36 and 31 of the indication means form no part of the present invention, the circuits for the control thereof are omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

In order to permit each lamp 36 or 31 to display a distinctive indication, the lamps may be provided with distinctively colored envelopes, or may be provided with clear glass envelopes and each be provided with a distinctively colored filter. As shown, the lamps 36 and 31 have clear glass envelopes and are provided with distinctively colored fllters 43 and 44, one lter 43 being disposed in recess 38, and the other filter 44 being disposed in recess 39. These filters are preferably colored one green and one red, in accordance with the usual practice in the railway signaling art. It should be pointed out that when one lamp or the other of the pair of indication lamps is controlled to its illuminated condition, the glass rod 35 traversing the operating member I3 becomes illuminated to display at its frosted outer end the colored indication determined by the color filter of the indication lamp then illuminated.

'I'he leg 42 of cover plate 4| provided for the indication recesses 38 and 39 formed in the cam member I6, is provided with a laterally projecting extension 45, which is provided with an opening 46 having a larger diameter at one end thereof than at the other. The larger diametered portion of the opening 46 is adapted to receive the head of a pin 41 moulded integrally in the member I6, and the smaller diametered portion of the opening 46 is adapted to receive the shank of pin 41. When the cover member 4| is rst positioned so that the head of pin 41 enters the larger diametered portion of opening 46, and the member is then moved so that the smaller diametered portion receives the shank portion of the pin, the head of pin 41 then engages the extension of member 4| to hold that member in its normal position wherein the recesses provided in member I6 are enclosed. It is readily apparent that by sliding cover member 4I so that the head of pin 41 can pass through the opening 46 in extension 45, the member 4| may then be removed from its normal position and may be raised to a position wherein the lamps 36 and 31 are accessible for inspection and replacement.

The base portion of the moulded cam member I6 is adapted to be engaged by L-shaped guide members 48 (see Fig. 4) secured to the base member 8, and which members serve to guide the sliding movement of member I6 in response to the operation of the operating member I3, in alignment with the axis of the operating member.

These guiding members 48, which are secured to the base member 8 by means of the screws 49, by guiding the movement of the member I8 `insure correct operation of the contact members of the contact stacks SI and S2, and prevent any tendency of member I8 to bind, which tendency might result if member I6 moves out of alignment with the axis of operating member I3.

Moulded integrally on each lateral side of cam member I6 is a V-shaped cam surface, the function of which will be pointed out presently.

The circuit controller and indicator are adapted to be assembled as a unit on a bracket member 50, which member is provided at its forward end with an opening 5I through which the outer end of operating member I3 may pass, and which opening serves to receive the boss provided on bearing member I2 of base member 8. The bracket is further provided on its rearward end with a slot 52, which communicates with a hole 53 having a predetermined diameter. The slot 52 and the hole 53 provided in bracket 50 cooperate with means on base member 8 for detachably securing the circuit control unit to the bracket. As here shown, the base member 8 is provided with an opening 54 through which the shank 21 of a large headed locking pin 55 operates. The pin 55, which is secured to spring member II fastened to base member 8, extends downwardly through base member 8 and is provided With a shoulder 56 adjacent its head, the diameter of this shoulder being substantially larger than the diameter of the pin shank 21, and being substantially equal to the diameter of hole 53 provided in bracket 50. The shank 21 of pin 55 has a diameter substantially equalling the width of slot 52 formed in the bracket.

The bracket 50 is further provided on each side with spring biasing members 51 secured thereon, which members are provided with rollers 58 pivotally pinned to the extreme outward front portion of the members, and which, as will be described presently, cooperate with the V-shaped cam surfaces provided on member I6 for biasing operating member I3 to its normal or intermediate position. Each spring member 51 is provided with a stiffener member 59.

To assemble the circuit controller as a unit on its supporting bracket 50, operating member I3 is rst aligned with the opening 5I formed in the forward portion of the bracket, and is then inserted into this opening. When the collar 56 of pin 55, provided for the base member 8, engages bracket member 50 to prevent further movement of operating member I3 into opening 5I of bracket 50, the spring member II may then be actuated to depress that spring member toward the base member 8, so that the shoulder portion 56 provided on the pin 55 is forced below the bracket 50, and the shank 21 of pin 55 is then received by slot 52 provided in the bracket. The unit may then be actuated in a forward direction, until the upturned leg 9 of base member 8 bears against the forward wall of bracket 5I), and the boss provided for bearing member I2 is received by opening 5I in this bracket. At this position of base member 8, the spring member I I may be released to actuate pin 55 secured thereon upwardly, so that the shoulder portion 56 of pin 55 is contained within the hole 53 of the bracket, and the head of the pin bears against the underside of the bracket, to which position the spring actuation of the member II biases the head. Also in this position of base member 8, the rollers 58 porvided on the spring member 51 secured to bracket 50 enter the notches of the V-shaped cam surfaces moulded on member I6, so that the member I3 and member |6 secured thereto, are positioned as shown in the drawings.

In the normal position of operating member I3, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the cam member IG governing the contacts of stacks SI and S2 is also in itsnormal or intermediate position. When operating member I3 is pushed inwardly to move cam member IS to its extreme inward position to selectively govern the control contacts as explained hereinbefore, the cam member I5, moving in response to the movement of member i3, actuates its forward V-shaped cam surfaces into engagement with the rollers 5Sto force them apart against their spring bias. When the force exerted upon the operating member I3 to actuate it inwardly is removed, the rollers 58 in response to their spring bias return member I6 and operating member I3 to their normal positions, so that the control oontacts governed thereby are restored to their normal positions. Likewise, when member I3 is is pulled outwardly to actuate cam member I5 to its outward position wherein the contacts are selectively controlled as explained hereinbefore, the rollers 58 are forced apart by virtue of the action of the rearward surfaces oi the V-shaped cam surfaces formed on member I6 so that when the operating member is released, the rollers 58 in response to their spring bias return cam member I6 and operating member I3 to their normal positions, and the contacts controlled by cam I6 also are restored to their normal positions.

It should be noted that a circuit controller constructed in accordance with our invention may be readily attached to or detached from a control panel. rIhat is to say, since the circuit controller and indicator are incorporated into a single unit, the bracket 5% may be securely xed to the control panel, and the controller unit may then be attached to, or detached from, the bracket by actuating spring member II to thereby actuate the locking pin 55 provided for the unit so that the shank 21 of pin 55 is received by the slot 52 provided in bracket 5G, and then actuating the unit to attach or remove the unit, as the case may be. Preferably, as can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the pin 55 is disposed at a slight angle with respect to the opening 53 provided in bracket 55, so that in the event base member 8 oi the controller unit moves rearward (as, for example, in response to the actuation of operating member I3 to its extreme inward position), the shoulder 55 will bite into the sidewalls of opening 53 provided in bracket 55 and the pin 55 will notbe forced downward to a position wherein its shoulder clears the bracket 5i). Since the pin`55 will not be moved downward under the above conditions,

the engagement of shoulder 56 with bracket 53 retains the controller unit secured to its 4associated supporting bracket.

As shown, a spring clip 55a may also be provided for pin 55 and may be proportioned so that when fastened or clipped to the pin 55, the clip will prevent the movement of pin 55 to its full down position wherein its collar 55 clears the bracket 59, with the result that the controller unit may be removed from its associated supporting bracket only after the clip 55a. has l been removed from engagement with locking pin 55. It should be pointed out that, with the pin 55 having its shoulder 55 proportioned to be engaged by the sidewalls of hole 53 of bracket in the manner previously described, the clip 'f 550; need not necessarily be used to maintain the controller unit secured to its supporting bracket. However, the clip a may be employed as shown to further insure that under all conditions the controller unit can be removed from its supporting bracket only after the clip is removed from its pin 55 to thereby permit the actuation of the pin to its full down position wherein shoulder 55 clears the supporting bracket 50.

One advantage of constructing a circuit controller in accordance with our invention, is that such construction enables a controller unit to be detachably secured to a control panel. This feature is particularly advantageous inasmuch as rapid interchange of circuit controllers can then be effected, whereby one controller unit may be removed from the panel and another unit placed in its bracket to function with the control apparatus of the system, while the removed unit is being inspected or repaired.

Another advantage of a circuit controller constructed in accordance with our invention is the provision of a moulded insulating cam member which combines in a single unit the multiple functions of controlling the operation of the contact members, of controlling the operation of the biasing means, and of providing individual compartments or recesses for each of the indication lamps and wherein each lamp is positioned.

This construction permits a three-position circuit controller to be combined with a duplex light indicator in a unitary controller structure having the least possible external dimensions, and requiring no more panel space than is usually required for a three-position circuit controller of the ordinary construction.

In addition, the specific construction of the biasing means provided for the circuit controller is such that the lateral forces exerted upon the operating member IS, resulting from the biased engagement of the rollers 53 with the V-shaped cam surfaces formed on the member IE, oppose and balance each other so that the operating member I3 is maintained in axial alignment with its bearing I2, and is free to operate within its bearing without any tendency of the member to bind due to an unbalanced force being exerted thereon.

Referring now to Figs, 5 and 6, a second form of circuit controller embodying our invention as shown comprises a supporting bracket 60 having an upturned leg at either end, the forward leg 5I being provided with an opening 62 threaded to receive a bearing member 53, and the rearward leg 54 being provided with an opening 65 in axial alignment with forward opening 62. An operating member is mounted in bearing 63 and in opening 65 for longitudinal sliding movement between two positions. The operating member comprises a cylindrically formed rod 66 having its rearward end slidably mounted in opening b5 of rear bracket leg G4, and provided on its forward end (see Fig. 5) with a threaded stud engaged by an internally threaded opening provided in a sleeve member 6l. The parts are so proportioned that with bearing 63 threaded into opening 62 of bracket leg 6I, and with rod 65 having its one end mounted in opening 65 of leg 64, the sleeve 61 when threaded onto rod 66 is mounted in bearing G3, so that the operating member formed by the cooperation of sleeve 61 with rod 8G is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement.

The operating member normally occupies its normal position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and is adapted at times to be pushed inwardly from its normal position to one extreme position and at other times to be pulled outwardly from its normal position to another extreme position.

The movement of the operating member in each longitudinal direction is limited by shoulders formed on rod 66, the shoulders being so arranged as to permit a predetermined movement in either direction before the shoulders engage the rear face of bearing 63 or the rear leg of bracket 60, as the case may be. The movement of the operating member between its two extreme positions is adapted to selectively operate control contacts provided for the circuit controller, in a manner to be explained in detail presently. As shown, sleeve 61 is provided with an integral button adapted to be grasped so that the operating member may be readily operated between its two extreme positions.

'I'he operation of the control contacts is governed by a single moulded cam member 68 formed of insulating material. Cam 68 is sccured to rod 66, preferably by being moulded thereon, and is provided on either lateral side with a V-shaped notch. The cam 68 is further provided on its upper side with an inverted V- shaped cam. 'Ihe function of the V-shaped notches and cam provided on cam member 68 will be pointed out presently.

An insulating member 69 is secured to the rearward leg 64 of the bracket 60 by means of screws 10. Clamped between the member 69 and bracket leg 64 are a pair of spring biasing members 1|, one for each side of the moulded member 68, and which spring members are provided on their outer sprung ends with pivotally arranged rollers 12. The rollers 12 are biased by virtue of their attached spring members 1i into the notches of the V-shaped cam surfaces formed on either lateral side of the member 68, and thus serve to bias member 68 to a normal position intermediate its two extreme positions.

The member 69 supports control contacts provided for the circuit controller in two groups or stacks S3 and S4. Stack S3 is shown in Fig. 6 and comprises a plurality of superposed insulating blocks 13a, 13b, 13e, and 13d, which are secured to member 69 by insulated screws 14. A movable contact finger 15 is clamped between block 13a and member 69 together with a metallic stop 16 adapted to prevent downward movement of the finger, and is provided at its outer end with a bend 11 adapted to be engaged by the rearward cam surface of the inverted V-shaped cam formed on member 68. 'Ihe bend 11 of this contact nger 15 is also provided with an upwardly projecting insulating block 18. A fixed contact finger 19 is clamped between blocks 13a, and 13b together with a fixed metallic stop 8l, and a second fixed contact finger 80 is clamped between blocks 13e and 13d together with another xed metallic stop v8l. A second movable contact finger 83 is clamped between the blocks 13b and 13C, and is provided with an integral extension engageable by the insulated block 18 carried by the bend 11 formed in the outer end of the rst movable contact finger 15. Normally,

the contacts of stack S3 are in the position illus- 'trated in Fig. 6, wherein contact fingers 15 and 83 are out of engagement with contact fingers 19 and 88, respectively. When operating member :66 is actuated to move cam member 68 formed thereon to its inward position, the rearward cam `surface of cam 68 engages the bend 11 formed `on contact flnger 15 to actuate that finger upwardly and into engagement with contact fin- ;ger 19, and the insulated block 18 carried by contact nger 15 actuates contact finger 83 upward- 1y into engagement with contact finger 80. Also in this inward position of cam member 68, the rollers 12 are forced apart by the forward cam surfaces of the V-shaped notches formed in the lateral sides of member 68, so that the rollers exert lateral forces upon the cam surfaces sufficient, when the force actuating operating member 66 inwardly is removed, to return cam member 68 and operating member 66 to their nor-V mal positions, wherein the rollers 12 engage the notches of the V-shaped cam surfaces.

Contact stack S4 is shown in Fig; 7 and com^ prises a plurality of superposed insulating blocks 84a, 84h and 84e secured to member 69 by means of the insulated screws 14. A movable contact finger is clamped between blocks 84ay and 841), and is provided at its outer end with a return bend 86 adapted to be engaged by the forward cam surface of the inverted V-shaped cam formed on member 68. The contact finger 85 normally engages a fixed contact finger 81, which is clamped between block 69 and block 84a, and which is provided with a relatively stiff metallic stop 88 clamped similarly with its contact finger. A second fixed contact finger 89, provided with a metallic stop 90, is clamped between the blocks 84h and 84e and is adapted to be engaged by contact finger 85 when return bend 86 of the latter finger is engaged by the forward cam surface of member 68. Thus with cam member 68 in its normal position, contact linger 85 engages contact finger 81, but when operating member 66 is pulled outwardly so that cam member 68 is moved to its outer position, the forward cam surface of member 66 engages the return bend 86 formed on contact finger 85 to` force that finger upwardly out of engagement with Contact finger 81 and into engagement with contact finger 69. In this position of cam member 68, the rollers 12 are engaged by the rearward cam surfaces of the V-shaped notches formed in the lateral sides of member 68 and are forced apart under spring tension so that when the force actuating operating member 66 is removed, the rollers act upon the rearward cam surfaces o1` the V-shaped notches to return cam member 68 and Operating mem-ber 66 to their normal positions wherein rollers 12 engage the notches of the V-shaped surfaces formed on the lateral sides of cam member 68. It is understood, of course, that the contact stock arrangement of stacks S3 and S4 may be varied to best suit the particular contact engagement required for each specific application of the circuit controller.

As indicated in Fig. 6, a circuit controller' constructed in the manner just described may readily be mounted upon a control panel. To mount the controller on a panel, the panel is provided with an opening adapted to receive the threaded boss of bearing member 63, and the sleeve 61 is removed from engagement with rod 66 so that the circuit controller may be positioned with its forward bracket leg 6I engaging the rear face oi' the panel. The opening 62 of leg 6I then is aligned with the panel opening so that bearing 63 may be threaded through the panel opening into opening 62 of bracket leg 6 l, whereupon the bearing when tightened secures the controller to the panel. The sleeve 61 then may be threaded onto rod 66, thereby forming the operating member of the controller and completing its assembly upon the panel.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that we have provided a three-position circuit controller normally biased to an intermediate position by means of opposing, balanced lateral only two forms of circuit controllers embodyingy our invention, it is understood that Various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appegided claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a detachable panel mounted circuit controller, in combination, a bracket formed on one end with an upturned leg adapted to be secured v to the rear face of a control panel and having an opening which aligns with an opening in said panel, a base member, means for detachably securing said base member to said bracket, an operating member, a bearing member secured to said base member in said operating member for longitudinal sliding movement between two eXtreme positions, said operating member projecting through said openings in said panel and bracket to the front face of said panel, contacts secured to said base member and cooperating with said operating member for selective operation in accordance with the position of said operating member, and means secured to said bracket and cooperating with said operating member for biasing said operating member to a position intermediate its two eX- treme positions.

2. In a detachable panel mounted circuit controller, in combination, a bracket formed on one end with an upturned leg adapted to be secured to the rear face of a control panel and having an opening which aligns with an opening in said panel, a base member, means for detachably securing said base member to said bracket, an operating member, a bearing member secured to said base member in axial alignment with said openings in said panel and bracket for mounting said operating member for longitudinal sliding movement between two eXtreme positions, said operating member projecting through said openings in said panel and bracket to the front face of said panel, a moulded insulating cam member secured to said operating member and provided with operating cam surfaces and with biasing cam surfaces, contacts secured to said base member and cooperating with the operating cam surfaces of said cam for selective operation in accordance with the position of said operating member, and spring biasing members secured to said bracket and cooperating with the biasing cam surfaces of said cam for biasing said operating member to a position intermediate its two extreme positions.

3. In a detachable panel mounted circuit controller, in combination, a bracket formed on one end with an upturned leg adapted to be secured to the rear face of a control panel and having an opening which aligns with an opening in said panel, a base member secured to said bracket, an operating member, a bearing member secured to axial alignment with said openings in said panel and bracket for mounting said base member in axial alignment with said openings in said panel and bracket for mounting said operating member for longitudinal sliding movement between two extreme positions, said operating member projecting through said openings in said panel and bracket to the front face of said panel, a moulded insulating cam member secured to said operating member and provided on each lateral side with V-shaped biasing cam surfaces, said cam member also being provided with operating cam surfaces, contacts secured to said base member and cooperating with the operating cam surfaces of said cam for selective operation in accordance with the position of said operating member, and spring biasing members secured to said bracket one for each lateral side of said cam member and cooperating with the V-shaped biasing cam surfaces of said cam for biasing said operating member to a position intermediate its two extreme positions.

4. In a detachable panel mounted circuit controller, in combination, a bracket formed on one end with an upturned leg adapted to be secured to the rear face of a control panel and having an opening which aligns with an opening in said panel, a base member secured to said bracket, an operating member, a bearing member secured to said base member in axial alignment with said openings in said panel and bracket for mounting said operating member for longitudinal sliding movement. between two extreme positions, said operating member projecting through said openings in said panel and bracket to the front face of said panel, a moulded insulating cam member secured to said operating member and provided on each lateral side with V-shaped biasing cam surfaces, said cam member also being provided with operating cam surfaces, contacts secured to said base member and cooperating with the operating cam surfaces of said cam for selective operation in accordance with the position of said operating member, and spring biasing members secured to said bracket one for each lateral side of said cam member, said spring biasing members being so disposed with relation to the V- shaped ,cam surfaces of said cam as to bias said operating member to a position intermediate its two extreme positions by virtue of equal opposing forces which maintain said operating member in alignment with said bearing member.

5. In a push-pull circuit controller of the class wherein a base member detachably secured to a bracket member supports a set of contacts and also mounts for longitudinal sliding movement between two extreme positions an operating member which selectively operates said set of contacts, the combination with said operating member and with said bracket of a cam member secured to said operating member and having oppositively disposed V-shaped cam surfaces, and spring biasing members secured to said bracket and disposed one to engage each of said V-shaped biasing cam surfaces in such manner that said operating member is biased to a position intermediate its two extreme positions by opposed and balanced biasing forces.

HERBERT L. BONE. wrLLIAM E. SMITH. ROBERT A. woons.

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