US2377134A

US2377134A - Tilt-type lever-operated switch

Info

Publication number: US2377134A
Application number: US516311A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter L Dietrich
Original assignee: Arrow Hart and Hegeman Electric Co
Current assignee: Arrow Hart and Hegeman Electric Co
Priority date: 1943-12-30
Filing date: 1943-12-30
Publication date: 1945-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1962-05-29

Description

w. L. DIETRICH 2,377,134

' TILT-TYPE LEVER-OPERATED SWITCH May 29, 1945.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1943 L J Invenior WWALTER L. DIETRICH {y 712's aiiarnqz F \%-m M M y 9 w. L DlETRlcH 2,377,134

TILT-TYPE LEVER-OPERATED SWITCH Filed Dec. 30, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inveniar WALTER L. DIETR ICH 3 7223 (zi'zarne ys MMW Patented May 29, 1945 TILT-TYPE LEVER-OIERATED SWITCH Walter L. Dietrich, Hartford, Conn, assignor to the Arrow-Bart & .Hegeman Electric Company, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application December so, 1943, Serial No. 516,311

(on. zoo-es) 10 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches. More particularly it relate to an electric switch of the multipole type in which the circuit making and breaking are accomplished by the tilting of a movable contact resulting from the pivotal movement of an operating lever.

It'is an object of the invention to provide an improved form of the tilt-type lever-operated electric switch composed of a minimum number of parts of simple and economical form, and which will be durable and positive in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the.drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational section view taken longitudinally through a switch embodying the prin-- ciples f the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view 01' the interior of the switch easing with the cover and operating mechanism removed;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section view taken along line3lof1"lg.1: y

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the member which engages and tilts the movable contacts simultaneously;

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective-view oi the tilt able bridging contact. Referring to the drawings, a rectangular casing It, made preferably of molded insulating ma-- terial, is hollowed out for the reception of the movable switch parts. The casing may behollowed out in generally H form providing parallel longitudinal channels i2 and H for the movable contact members, hereinafter described. In. the center of the channels l2, H are provided identical fulcrum-bearing members it and I l having stem portions I68 extending through the floor of the casing and peened over on to the surface of identical

wire terminal members

20 and 22 through which, also, the stem portions extend. The inner or upper portions of the fulcrum mornbel's i8, 58 have inclined or tapered top surfaces, about, the apex of which a movable contact 38 may tilt. The movable contact members 3i? are preferably stamped from strips of highly conductive sheet metal and have a strip at the central portion thereof lanced out in the form as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and. 5, namely, with V-shape valley portions 3% and between which is an inverted v-siiape hill portion 38c over which the actuating member (hereinafter described) must ride in moving from one valley to the other during the op ation of the device. 55;- opposii-e ends of the movable contact 2353 are contact buttons 35 of silver or other highly conductive material. These buttons are adapted to engage and disengage identical stationary contact buttons 38 having stem portions which are forced within tubular members 40 which pass through the floor of the casing at opposite ends of the channels I: and I4 and have their lower ends peened over on to the surfaces of wire. terminal members 42, 44 which are or may be identical with wire terminals 20. Square heads on the tubular members 48 seat within square recesses in the ends of'channels I! to prevent rotation. Preferably the contact surfaces of the stationary contact buttons 38 will be tapered or inclined so that as the movable contact member tilts, the surfaces of the movable contact buttons will have a large surface of contact with the stationary contacts. I

In order to cause tilting of the movable contacts '80, a lever-operated mechanism is provided, comprising a lever or handle portion II with a spherical lower end 52 which is received within an externally-threaded nipple 54 and bears against a reduced neck portion 56 in the upper end of said nipple. The lever 58 is hollowed out axially for the reception, in its upper end, of a coiled compression spring, and for the reception, in its lower end, of a cylindrical plunger member 80. The plunger member 60 has a lower end of reduced section to extend through a central aperture in an insulating plate 62 of fiber, Bakelite, or other suitable insulating material. To secure the plate and plunger together, its reduced and is peened over against the bottom surface of the plate. symmetrically positioned in the insulat ing plate 82 on opposite sides of the plunger 86 and extending from the opposite side of said plate from said plunger so as to be directed in the opposite direction to the plunger are identical projection members 66, 86, made preferably from round metal rods. One end of these projections is preferably of reduced section to extend through the insulating plate $2 and be peened over in order to be held securely in place. The opposite ends of the projections are preferably flattened axially and tapered to roimdecl points or ends. The flattened portions extend into the slots 338 formed by the lensing out 01 the central strip of the contact members 3%.

To hold the contact members against endwis movement as they tilt, aligned oppcsitely errsen lateral exten ons are on the side. e central mbers to 11 vertical 519th 39331 -?:d the bottom o trally therein, current carrying fulcrum To hold the parts in their assembled position, the nipple I4 is secured in an aperture in a cover plate II which is secured by bolts or otherwise to the casing ll.

From the foregoing, it may be observed that the spring 5| within the operating lever ll tends to force the spherical bearing portion H of the operating lever against the neck II of the nipple 54 to keep those parts in bearing engagement.- At the same time, the spring 58 tends to force the operating member (formed of the plunger I, the plate 2 and projections N and bl) outwardly of the lever 50 to force the projections 84 and I. in engagement with the movable contact members 30., Normally the projections will seat within one or the other of the valleys Ila or Ilb oi the movable contact members to hold those contact members in one or the other of their tilted positions.

Upon movement of the operating lever I. to the left from the position shown in Fig. l, the projections 64 and I6 ride up over the hill ilc of the contact members as the plunger I moves into the lever 50 against the pressure of the spring 5!. When the projections N, it pass over-center, the movable contact members II will be suddenly shifted or tilted from the position shown, thereby to separate the fixed and movable contacts at the left endoi the switch and engage the fixed and movable contacts at the right end.

Thus, it will beobserved that I have provided an improved form of tiltable electric switch mechanism wherein the parts may be economically manufactured from standard sheet or rod materials or conveniently molded from insulation and may be fabricated with a minimum amount of labor commensurate with satisfactory operation and durable structure of the invention.

Many modifications within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore I do not limit it to the specific embodiment described and illustrated.

I claim:

1. In a multi-pole electric switch, an insulating casing having parallel channels therein, fixed contacts at opposite ends of said channels, said fixed contacts comprising hollow mounting members and contact buttons having stems closely fitted in said members, movable contact members within and guided by the side walls of said channels and engageable alternately with said fixed contacts, said movable contacts having hill and said projections into one or another of said valley valley portions formed centrally therein, currentcarrying fulcrum members tiltably supporting said movable contact members at their central portions, actuating means for tilting said movable contacts comprising projections slidably enguling said movable contacts and an insulating plate fixedly carrying said projections and a plunger afiixed to said plate, in combination with a hand-- operable lever having sliding mgagunent with said plunger, a mounting nipple having a neck against which a spherical portion of said lever bears,springmeansurgingsaidsphericalportiai against said neck and urging said projections into one or another of the valley portions of said movable contacts.

2. In a multi-pole electric switch, an insulating casing having parallel channels therein, fixed contacts. at opposite ends of said channels, movable contact members within and guided by the side walls of said channels and engaseable alternately with said fixed contacts, said mova le contacts having hill and valley portions formed cenmembers tiltably supporting said movable contact portions of said movable contacts.

3. In a multi-pole electric switch, an insulating casing having parallel channels therein. fixed contacts at opposite ends of said channels, movable contact members in said channels engagcable alternately with said fixed contacts, said movable contacts having hill and valley portions formed centrally therein, current carrying fulcrum members tiltably supporting said movable contact members at their central portions, actuating.

means for tilting said movable contacts comprising projections slidabLv enga i said movable contacts and an insulating plate fixedly carrying said projections and a plunger afiixed to said plate, in combination with a hand-operable lever having sliding engagement with said plimger, a mounting nipple. having a neck against which a spherical portion of said lever bears, spring means urging said spherical portion against said'neck and urging said projections into one or mother of the valley portions of said movable contacts.

4. In a multi-pole electric switch, an insulating casing having parallel channels therein, fined contacts at opposite ends of said channels, movable contact members in said channels malle alternately with said fixed contacts, current'carrying fulcrum members tiltably supporting said movable contact members at their central portions, actuating means for fliflng'said movable contacts comprising projections slidably mgagingsaidmovablecontactsandaninsulatingplate fixedlycarryingsaidprojectims andaplunger afilxedtosaid plate,in cmnblnationwitha'handoperable lever having sliding engagement with said plunger, a moimting nipple having a neck against which a spherical portion or said lever bears, spring means urging said spherical portion against said neck and urging said projections into engagement with said movable contacts.

5. In a multi-pole electric switch, an insulating casing having parallel channels therein, fixed cmtacts at opposite ends of said channels, movable contactmembersinsaidchannelsengagelblealternately with said fixed contacts and guiding by the side walls of said channels, current carrying iulcrum members tiltably supporting aid ablecontactmembersattbeircentralportiom. actuating means for tilting said movable contacts ild-sing P jections slidahly mgaging id movable contacts and an insulating plate fixedly carrying said projections and-a plunger afilxed tosaidpIafleJncombinaIlonwithahand-cperable lever having sliding Wt with said p uneer, sw e mea s uraing said proiections into engagement with said movable contacts.

-l electricswitch,aninsulatihg casing, fixed contacts at opposite ends of said casing, movable contact members engageable alternately'with the fixed contact members at oppositeendsofthecasinmcurrentcarryingflb crum members tiltably supporting said movahh contact members at their central portions, actuat-' ing maens ior'tilting said movable contacts commembers prising projections slidably nsuin said movable contacts and an insulating plate fixedly carrying said projections and a plunger aflixed to said plate, in combination with a hand-operable lever having sliding engagement with said plunger, spring means urging said projections into engagement with said movable contacts to hold said movable contacts in engagement with one or 'the other of the fixed contacts at opposite ends cal member affixed to the central portion of said' plate, a plurality of projections ailixed to said plate and extending oppositely to said cylindrical member, movable contacts supported for tilting movement, and means resiliently holding said projections engaged with said movable contacts and permitting sliding therebetween to cause tilting of said contacts from one position to another.

9. In a-multi-pole electric switch, a tiltable device comprised of an insulating plate, a cylindrical member amxed to the central portion of said plate, a plurality of projections ailixed to said plate and extending oppositely to said cylindrical member, movable contacts supported for tilting movement, said movable contacts each having a strip pressed out from their central portions forming a slot with the expressed portion in hilland-valley form below, said projections having flattened side surfaces adjacent their tips enabling the projections to extend through the slots into engagement with said hill and valley portions.

10. In a multi-pole electric switch, a tiltable device comprised of an insulating plate, a cylindrical member aiilxed to the central portion of said plate, a plurality of projections amxed to said plate and extending oppositely to said cylindrical member, movable contacts supported for tilting movement, said movable contacts each having a strip pressed out from their central portions forming a slot, said projections having 4 flattened side surfaces adjacent their tips ena- 25 bling the projections to extend through the slots.

WALTER L. DIETRICH.