US2368926A - Submergible switch - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, 1945. M. L.. JEFFREY SUBMERGIBLE SWITCH Filed Sept. 29, 1941 m om @awww $1 INVENTOR.

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WN NN AH y mw m@ NW O0 www NN Patented Feb. 6, 1945 SUBMERGIBLE SWITCH Max L. Jeilrey, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to The M. L. Jeffrey Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 29, 1941, Serial No. 412,805

9 Claims.

This invention relates to switches and operating mechanisms therefor and more particularly to a switch that is submergible in a fluid.

In modern machines it is often desired to have circuit breakers operable by certain parts of the machine to open or close a circuit for controlling thc operation of another component of the machine. Where the moving part is located exteriorly of the machine it is a relatively simple matter to provide a circuit breaker for actuation by that part. However, when moving parts are interior of the machine, as is often the case, these parts may be either submerged in iluid or there may be an atmospherel of vapor surrounding the parts such that a switch has to be f WD@ wherein it is completely inclosed.

Still another problem resides in providing a switch wherein the part of the machine which is used to initiate the making and breaking of the circuit has a relatively large travel while the movement necessary to operate the switch contacts is relatively small.

By my present invention I am able to provide a switch wherein the contacts are completely inclosed and there is no opportunity for fluide to get .into the switch itself, and wherein a relatively large amount of overtravel is allowable without injuring the parts. It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a switch which may besubmerged in fluids and wherein the fluids cannot obtain access to the circuit making and breaking parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control mechanism for a switch which may be adjusted to open or close a circuitl Within close tolerances.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch wherein the contacts are only opened or closed by movement of the control lever in one direction and movement of the control lever in the other direction has no effect thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism for a switch wherein the control lever may be readily adjusted to different positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism for a switch wherein the control lever is always returned after operation to a predetermined neutral position.

Still other objects of the invention including those of the economies of construction and manufacture as well as the invention will become more apparent from the following description in the embodiment thereof, which description is illus- (Cl. 20o-153) trated by the accompanying drawing and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a complete switch and its operating mechanism constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the switch houslng;

Fig. 3 is a view taken in a plane from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the adjustable parts shown in Fig. l with certain interior parts being shown by dotted lines;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of an operating rod; I

Fig. '7 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of a sleeve used in conjunction with the element of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the sleeve of Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a side elevational view of the cam used for causing the operation of the switch parts;

Fig. 1l is a plan view of a diaphragm member used for sealing the housing;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of a support used for mounting the switch in the housing;

Fig. 13 is an end elevational view of the clip of Fig. l2;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section of the cam taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the push rod and operating cam showing in doti-dash lines an alternate position taken by the parts during Operation; and

Fig. 16 is a section taken on the line lE-IS of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawing throughout which like parts have been designated by like reference characters, the switch and its cooperative mechanism generally comprises a housing in which a switch of the so-called micro-type isdisposed. The housing has attached to it a, stem which contains a plunger and push rod mechanism for operating the micro-switch and which is connected into the switch housing by a coupling. The other end is provided with a cam and lever for operating the push rod.

More specifically, a housing illustrated generally at lil comprises a substantially rectangular box II and has extending from its one end a threaded coupling l2 which may be attached to a conventional conduit and which opens into the interlor of the housing. The micro-switch I3 is well known. It is provided with an operating pin I5 which extends through one side and which operates the switch with a snap action upon very small movement thereof. The body of the `switch I3 is rectangular and is provided with a pair of transverse openings I6 through the body through which screws may ordinarily be passed for mounting purposes. Insulating means for the housing is provided in the form of a fiber cup I1 having an opening I8 therethrough in alignment with the opening in the coupling I2 for reception of the wires (not shown) which attach to contact screws on the base of the switch I3, The housing is provided with laterally extending flanges 2U on the end and is adapted to be closed by a cap 2I which is screwed to the ilanges by screws 22. Interposed between the cap and the body of the housing and held in place by the cap is a diaphragm 23 (Fig. l1). The diaphragm is constructed of any ilexible material, preferably of oil resistant synthetic rubber. A button 24 is disposed in the diaphragm located opposite the operating pin I5. It comprises a head adapted to engage with the pin, and having a shank 26 extending through the diaphragm and riveted over at 21 in a washer 28 on the other side of the diaphragm. The button assembly is riveted sufciently tight to seal the hole through the diaphragm and provides a rigid means for transmitting pressure to the pin I5.

The micro-switch is positioned in the housing I0 by a support best illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 which comprises a generally rectangular nat body portion 30 having a pair of pins 3I extending normal to the body portion and adapted to extend through the openings I5 in the microswitch. The body portion is also provided on opposite ends with a pair of curved arms 32 shaped to conform to the inner periphery of the housing recess I I which housing is also relieved at 33 to receive the arms. The relieved portion provides a pair of shoulders for each of the arms and the support and switch are assembled together and slid into the relieved portion 33 and are held rigidly in place by the pressure of the cap 2I against the edge of the coupling.

The cap 2l is provided with a coupling 35 disposed opposite to the button 24 on the diaphragm and having an opening 36 coaxial therewith. The coupling is provided with a pair of downwardly extending ears 31 which are separated from the housing by a slot 38 which extends up into the coupling. A set screw 33 extends through a hole in one of the ears and is threaded into the other ear providing a clamp for clamping into the coupling a tube 4I which extends through the coupling and into a socket 42 in the housing. An opening is provided through the cap coaxial with the bore of the coupling and with the button on the diaphragm. The tube 4I supports the mechanism including the plunger assembly for operating against the button 24 which in turn operates the pin I5 of the micro-switch.

The plunger assembly for engagement with the button is housed in the end of the tube 4I and comprises a cylindrical body 43 into the end of which is screwed a set screw 44 which is locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 45. The body is provided with a cylindrical bore 46 and a headed member 41 is reciprocably disposed in the body extending through a sleeve 48. The sleeve 4l is held in position in the body by an end flange 49 of the cylinder 43 which may be spun over and through which the stem ot the member 41 extends. A helical spring 5I is disposed between the head 56 of the member 41 and the other end of the bore 4l.

The plunger assembly may be moved longitudinally in the tube 4I, and the adjustable set screw 44 extends through the opening in the housing cap 2I in position to engage the button 24 on the diaphragm. The plunger assembly may be moved against the button which in turn is forced against the operating pin I5 of the micro-switch to operate the micro-switch. This is accomplished by moving a rod into engagement with the end of the headed member 41 which extends out of the cylinder 43. The member 41 is also capable of movement independent Of the cylinder 43 when the pressure on the set screw 44 becomes sufficiently great because the member 41 transmits its pressure to the cylinder 43 through the spring 5I. In this manner the spring 5| is designed to have suilicient stiffness to allow the micro-switch to be operated without any appreciable movement of the member 41 relative to the cylinder 43, but after the switch has been operated injury to the switch is prevented and greater movement of the mechanism for operating the switch is permitted because the spring 5I compresses.

The mechanism for operating the cylinder 43. which comprises a push rod and cam mechanism. is supported by the other end of the tube 4I. A coupling 60 is disposed on the end of the tube 4I. The tube is of reduced diameter at 6I to receive the end of the coupling 60 over the outside. This coupling may be threaded on to the end of the tube 6I or may be secured thereon by a press fit. The coupling has a male end B2 of reduced diameter and which is substantially closed except for a push rod guiding opening 63 coaxial with the tube 4I. This end 62 supports a housing 64, which is held in place by a tapered pin 65 which extends through the coupling, off center. The housing 64 may be square and is closed on its end at 66. A circular opening 61 extends transversely through the housing spaced slightly from the end. Seated in this opening 61 is a cam member 68 best shown in Fig. 10. The cam member 68 is provided with a cylinder portion 69 at its end which provides a bearing for engagement with the opening 61 and a cylinder portion 10 adjacent its base for providing a bearing for engagement in the opening 61 on the opposite side. The body 68 is also cylindrical and is provided with a square notch 1I which extends into the body, the base of which provides a cam surface. The end of the cam member is enlarged slightly at 12 and the end is serrated at 13. A threaded opening 14 coaxial with the cam is provided, adapted to receive a screw 15 which holds a cap 16, Figs. 1 and 4, in the body. The cap 16 is provided with a lug 11 on one side and with a transverse groove 18 on the other side for reception of the rod 19 which rod is held in the groove against the serrations of the cam. A slot is provided in the other end of the cam for the reception of the screw driver or other instrument to assist in the adjustment.

A cam return and push rod guide is provided for engagement with the cam surface 1I of the cam and includes a body portion 82 of substantially square cross section with the corners rounded at 83 and has a reduced cylindrical extension 84 adapted to receive a spring 85. `The extension and the body is provided with a slot 81 ex- ,surface l i.

tending longitudinally therethrough. The head of the cam or the body 82 is adapted for engagement in the opening 1| of the cam with the end of the head pressed against the fiat cam A push rod 98 extends longitudinally of the tube 4| and through a guide 9| secured in the end of the tube adjacent the plunger 48 by rolling in the tube as at 92. The other end of the push rod is provided with al head 94. The push rod is secured into the head 84 by inserting the rod into a hole in the head and riveting a cross pin S6 transversely through the head and which pin engages a notch in the rod. The end of the head is cut away at 91 and the head is reciprocable in the slot 81 of the member 82, the sides of the head providing a close sliding fit therewith as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The face 98 Iof the head opposite the cut-away portion 91 rests on the inside of the housing 64 and is retained within the sleeve 82 by contact therewith. The rod 90 being secured in the head off center when placed in the tube is in a position coaxial therewith and is also guided by the opening 63 in the coupling 60.

In operation the lever 19 is adjusted to any predetermined position by means of the set screw l and cap 16. The end of the push rod head 94 at the junction with the face 91 is engaged with the cam face ll. As will best be seen from Figs. 14 and l5, when the cam 'li is rotated in the direction of the arrows it moves the sleeve 82 against the pressure of the spring 85 together with the push rod, but since the head 94 is reciprocable in the slot of the sleeve and because the cut away portion 9T is disposed on the side towards the opposite direction of the rotation as indicated Kby the arrow, when the cam is moved in the opposite direction as shown, the face 'H engages the end of the member 82 but does not contact the head 84 of the push rod. Hence only the member 82 is moved. ln either instance the body 82 returns the cam and lever 'i9 to its neutral position by reason of the spring 85 which forces the body 82 toward the end of the housing 64 and which engages the cam at 'll to rotate it until the neutral position is reached, after which the body then engages the full cam surface and stops its rotation in its neutral position. This enables the lever "l to be noved in one direction and not aiiect the push rod 9U and in the other direction to move the push rod 9U.

Longitudinal movement of the push rod 9i) is communicated to the stud il in the plunger assembly which assembly movement is communicated by means of the button to the operating i pin i5 of the micro-switch. After the microswitch has been operated continued movement of the plunger meets with resistance, the stud il slides in the cylinder 43 compressing the spring 5l. When the lever 'I9 is released the spring 85 returns the cam and lever to its neutral position as previously described. The spring 5| returns the stud 4l to its normal position in the cylinder 43 wherein the head 56 engages the inner end of the sleeve 48.

Obviously the rod Sil and the tube il can be made of various lengths to enable the operation to be eiective at greater distances from the switch when desired and also additional guides 9| may be disposed in the tube to furnish lateral support for the rod 90. the switch effectively against foreign matter such as liquids and it is of no moment that liquids can get into the tube di since there are no electrical connections within this tube.

The diaphragm 23 seals Having thus described my invention in an embodiment thereof I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

1|. A device of the class described including a tube, a telescopable plunger disposed in one end of the tube, and a cam in the other end, a spring pressed follower for said cam and a push rod guided by said follower and operable by said cam to in turn move said plunger, said plunger adapted to telescope upon meeting pre-determined resistance to movement.

2. A device of the class described, a tube, a plunger disposed in said tube and comprising a hollow cylinder having an adjustable abutment in one end, a piston slidably extending out of the other end and spring means holding the piston in extended position, means for reciprocating said plunger in said tube including a housing carried by the other end of the tube, a cam member rotatably supported by said housing and rotatable about an axis extending transversely across the housing and having a cam surface disposed parallel to the axis of rotation, a follower in said housing guided thereby and having a cam face engaging surface, spring means for urging said follower against said cam face to hold said cam resiliently in a neutral position, said follower having a longitudinal slot therethrough provided with parallel side walls, a push rod in said tube having one end adapted to contact said plunger and a head on the other end guided by the walls of said slot in said follower, said head having an extension adapted to engage said cam face on one side of its axis of rotation, and being free of the cam on the other side of its axis of rotation, said cam adapted to move the follower and push rod when rotated in one direction and the follower alone when rotated in the opposite direction and means for rotating said cam.

3. An apparatus of the class described, including a housing, a plunger reciprocably disposed in one end of said housing for operating a switch or the like, means to move said plunger in said housing comprising a cam carried by the other end of the housing, a push rod extending through the housing and having an end in engagement with said plunger, a head carried by the other end of said rod for engagement with said cam, means exterior of the housing for rotating the cam and means interiorly of the housing for returning said cam to a neutral position.

4. An apparatus of the class described, including a housing, a plunger reciprocably disposed in one end of said housing for operating a switch or the like, means to move said plunger in said housing comprising a cam carried by the other end of the housing, a push rod extending through the housing and having an end in engagement with said plunger, a head carried by the other end of said rod for engagement with said cam, means exterior of the housing for rotating the cam and means interiorly of the housing for returning said cam to a neutral position, said interior means comprising a member for engagement with the cam surface of said cam and spring means for urging said member against said cam.

5. An apparatus of the class described, including a housing, a plunger reciprocably disposed in one end of said housing for operating a switch or the like, means to move said plunger in said housing comprising a cam carried by the other end of the housing, a push rod extending through the housing and having an end in engagement with said plunger, a head carried by the other end of said rod for engagement with said cam, means exterior of the housing for rotating the cam and means interiorly of the housing for returning said cam to a neutral position. said interior means comprising a member for engagement with the cam surface of said cam and spring means for urging said member against said cam, said push rod being movable relative to said cam return member.

6. An apparatus of the class described. a housina, a cam disposed in said housing and having a cam surface rotatable about an axis transverse of said housing, a cam follower disposed in said housing in engagement with said cam surface and resilient means holding said follower against said surface and operable to resiliently hold said cam in a neutral position, a push rod for engagement by said cam having a head portion for engagement with said cam surface at one side thereof and being relieved at the other side whereby said cam upon rotation in one direction moves said cam and follower simultaneously and in the other direction of rotation moves the follower only.

7. A device of the class described including a housing, a cam member rotatably disposed in said housing and having a cam face, said cam face extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam, means for engagement with said cam face to hold said cam in a neutral position comprising a follower having an end face for engagement with the cam face and spring means for pressing said follower against said cam face, a push rod operable by said cam and including a head guided by said follower, the end of said head having an extension for engagement with said cam face at one side of the axis of rotation, said head being free from engagement with the cam face on the other side of said axis of rotation, said cam being operable upon rotation in one direction to move said push rod and in the other direction to move free of the push rod.

amiamov 8. A device of the class described including a support. a rotatable cam element rotatably carried by the support and having a cam face rotatable about and to one side of the cam element axis, means for returning the cam to neutral position comprising a follower guided by the support having a flat face in engagement with the cam face and spring means for holding the follower pressed against the cam, a push rod for operation by said cam having a head and a cam engaging face for engaging said cam face at one side of its axis of rotation, said cam being rotatable to move the push rod head when rotated in one direction and when rotated in the other direction rotating out of engagement with the push rod head said follower being formed with a guide slot for guiding said push rod.

9. An apparatus of the class described including tubular housing, a collapsible plunger reciprocably disposed in said housing and comprising a. cylindrical member having an adjustable member on one end for adjusting the length of the plunger and a resilient extension for the other end of the plunger, means for moving said plunger in said tube comprising a cam rotatably journalled in the other end of the housing and having a cam surface extending transversably to the axis of the tube, a cam follower for said cam slidably guided by said housing and having a cam engaging face, spring means for holding said follower against the cam face, said follower being formed with a kerf extending longitudinally therethrough and a push rod disposed in said housing having one end engaged with the plung er and a head on the other end disposed in said kerf, the end of said head being relieved on one side and formed to engage the cam face on the other side, said cam adapted to move the follower and head and push rod when rotated in one direction and the follower only when rotated in the other direction.

MAX L. JEFFREY.

CERTIFICATE OF CRREGTI0N. Patent No. 2,568,926. February, 1945.

MAX L. JEFFREY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification v of the above mmberedipatent requiring correction'as follows: Page LL, -second column, lline L|.l,` after 'direction. and before the signature, insert the following claim 10. A device of the clasa described, a-housing, a

rotatable cam element journalied in s'aidhousing, a cam face for said cam element disposed in a plane parallel `to and one/'aide of the axis of rotation of said cam element, means for rotating said cam exteriorly of4 said housing and means for resiliently holding said camin a.' neutral position oomprisingafollcwver slidably disposed` in said housing and having a flat end portion resting against said cam face, spring means for said follower for holding it againatjsam cam face, apusn rod tempted4 to be moved by said cam upon rotation in one direction only and including ahead porti on having an end extension for engagement with said cam face at one' sideonly of its axis of rotation, said follower being provided with a longitudinally extending groove and said push rod head being disposed in said grooveandguided thereby.;

in the heading to the printed specification, line 7., for "9 Claims" read --lO Claims; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this 'correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent office.

Spigned and sealed this 26th day of June, A. D. 1914.5.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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