US2381835A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

Patented Aug. 7,1945

assrsss swrrcn John 0. Moorhead, Attleboro, Mass.,

Metals and Controls Corporation,

assignor to Attleboro,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 1s, 1943, serial'No. 514,157,

(ci. 20a-s) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to switches, and with regard to certain more specific features, to multipole, snap-acting switches.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the` provision of a multi-pole, snap-acting switch of simple organization which may be economically fabricated and easily assembled; the provision of a switch of the class described which, by a very simple structure, obtains ,equalized snap-action; and the provision of a switch of this class in which creep action of the snapacting .element does not translate into creep action in certain switch operations. Other objects will be in part obvious and-in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, "and will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In vthe accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention, i

Fig. l is a top plan view of the switch about full Size;

Fig. 2 is e, front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of Fig. '2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

arrangements of parts which l formed four holes 45.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken online 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, numeral I indicates a molded insulating bottom-forming base. This base I forms the foundation for a sub-assembly which comprises a row of line terminals 3, to which are riveted spring contact arms 5. The latter bias upward. At the ends of the spring arms 5 are contacts 1. Upward bias of the arms normally forces the upper faces of the contacts 1 against upper contacts 3 on rigid conducting extensions Il. The extensions II are riveted to a second row of line terminals I3. The lower faces of the contacts 1. are adapted to engagel with contacts I5, mounted on rigid extensions I1, the latter being riveted to a third row of line terminalsl I3. From the above it will be seen that the spring arms 5 normally bias up to close parallel circuits between the respective contacts of the rows of line terminals 3 and I3. When the arms 5 are pushed down, they substantially simultaneously close parallel circuits through respective pairs of the line terminals 3 and I9.

Each line terminal is made as is the one shown at the right in' section in Fig. 5, being tapped and provided with a terminal screw 2I. Each screw is in a molded socket 23 having a side outlet for the insertion of lead-in wires (Figs. 3 and 5).

Above the base l is a separatesub-base member 25 made up of molded insulating material. This ishollowed as shown Aat 21 to surround the switch operating parts on the top of the base I. The sub-base 25 also has an integral median partition wall 28 located between a central pair of' switch elements, the latter being indexed in general by. numeralsl base I also has integral separating walls 39 which separate the pairs of switch Vunits which are indexed in general as 3l, 33 and 35, 31 in Fig. 6. Thus each switch is in a separate compartment between the bases I and 25.v Furthermore, the central wall29 of the vsub-base 25 is provided with holes for holding screws 4I which are threaded into the portion of the base I just below the wall 29 (Fig. 5). These screws hold t0- gether the two bases.

Above the vertical wall 23, the member 25 is formed as a horizontal wall 43 in which are These are located along a line at right angles tothe separating wall 29 and directly above the spring arms 5. They form vertical guides for short cylindric insulating and operating pins 41, the latter having rounded ends. These pins slide in the guides 45 and rest upon the arm 5. They are light in weight being also molded from insulating material. They protrude slightly above the upper surface of the horizontal wall 43. 4

On the upper ends of the pins 41 rests an equalizing and operating bar 49. The support is a loose .rocking one and the ends of the bar are roundedas indicated at 5I, loosely to engage notches 53 in the periphery of a disc-shaped recess 55. Recess 55 is formed above the horizontal wall 43 and in the sub-base 25. In this recess 55 is an angular shoulder 51 which supports van over-centering, snap-acting spring disc 59. The normal stable condition of curvature of the disc is convex upward as shown in Fig. 5.

Enclosing the top of the member 25 is a hat metal cap 5I, held in place by four screws $3. Centrally this cap 6I has riveted to it a hollow bushing 64 threaded at 85 to receive a nut 51 for attachment purposes to panels and the like. Sliding inside of the bushing 64 is a hollow sleeve 69, the upper end of which 1I. The sleeve is prevented from being depressed more than a limited extent by means of a snap 33 and 35 in Fig. 6. The

forms a push button ring 19 forming an outer shoulder. .At its lower end the sleeve 99 has an outwardly directed shoulder 15 engaging an inwardly directed shoulder 11 of the bushing 5l for limiting outward biased movement of the sleeve 59.

Within the sleeve 69 is an abutment insert 19 for a compression spring 9|. The lower end of the spring 9| engages an abutment 53, the latter having a nipple 85 extendingl loosely into an opening 51 of the disc 59. The abutment 53 is hollow as indicated at 9|l the hollow portion providing some lost motion with respect to an operating abutment pin-93 fastened rigidly to the center of the top of the operatingbar 49.

For ease of assembly, the nipple 95 is removable from the opening 51 and the abutment 19 is removable from and insertable in the sleeve 59. The spring merely abuts the members 19 and 83.

Operation is as follows, starting with the switch-closed position of parts showrrin Fig, 5.

Pressure on the button 1| forces the sleeve 59 down into the bushing B4 which compresses ythe spring 8|. This applies resilient pressure to the top of the disc 59. The latter, under load, after slight creep, snaps or overcenters quickly from the upwardly arched position shown to the downwardly arched position,lin which the pin 93 of bar 49 iscontacted. This drives the equalizing bar 49 down against the four pins 41 which respectively'push down the switch arms 5 out of contact with contacts 9 and into contact with the contacts I5. When pressure is released upon the button 1| the disc 59 again snaps up to lthe position shown in Fig. 5, thus allowing the arms 5 to reset themselves into their initial upwardly biased positions.

The play or loose connection between the operating pin 93 and the socket 9| in member 83 is doubly important.' First, it allows any preliminary slow-acting creep movement of the disc 59 to occur without transmitting creep movement to the arms 5. Then, as the disc snaps downwardly it strikes the pin 93 with more or less of a blow, which suddenly opens all of the contacts practically at once. Second, the play allows complete freedom of the bar 49 to assume an equalizing position on the pins 41. In this connection it will be observed that the spring arms 5 gravitationally support the equalizing bar 49 through pins 41.

The slow-acting creep movement of disc 59 at the start of its by making the pins 41 of such length that the Pins and bar all have loose fits. The disc 59 is then dropped into place and the cover 6| is applied, the latter having already had attached to it the bushing and button parts. At the time the cover 5| is applied, the members 69, 19, 83 and spring 9| are inserted. The cover 6| is then fastened down withthe screws 53, thus pre-compressing the spring 8|, but not to an extent which will snap down the disc 59. l

return motion is compensated for` spectively in said guide openings As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted -as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

a plurality of spring switch arms biased in one direction, operating pins supported by said arms, an equalizer bar supported by said pins, a snapacting spring disc member cooperating with lost motion with said equalizer bar and manually operated resilient means for applying a load through said spring member to the disc to snap it in a direction to take up said lost motion toward said equalizer bar and to drive it against said pins to operate said switch arms.

3. A multi-pole snap-acting switch comprising a plurality of parallel spring switch bars biased in a. certain direction and located side-by-side, a. row of operating pins supported by said arms, said row extending perpendicular to the bar lengths, an equalizer bar supported by said pins and extending parallel to said row, an operating abutment on said bar, a snap-acting spring disc member cooperating centrally with lost motion with said abutment oi.' the equalizer bar, and manually operated resilient means for applying a resilient load, said disc to snap it in a direction to take up said lost motion and to drive said equalizer bar through said abutment and against said pins to operate said switch arms.

4. In a multi-pole snap-acting switch, a switcharm assembly comprising a base, rows of paired line terminals thereon, a plurality of switch arms supported by certain of said terminals, an insulating covering member attached to said base and covering said switch-arm assembly, said cover member having a shouldered recess, a snapacting spring disc supported in said recess, guide openings through the cover member extending from said recess, sliding pins respectively in said guide openings and respectively` engaging the switch arms, and an equalizing bar located in said recess under the disc and engaging said pins and operated by said spring disc.

5. In a multi-.pole sna -acting switch, a switcharm assembly comprising a base, rows of paired line terminals thereon, a plurality of switch arms supported by certain of said terminals, contacts carried by certain of the line terminals and .n position to cooperate with said switch arms, an insulating covering member attached to said base and covering said switch arm assembly, said cover member having a shouldered re. cess, a snap-acting spring disc supported in said recess, guide openings through the cover member extending from said recess, sliding pins respringv disc, said and resilient pressure means connecting the push andI having there between a horizontal wail and button and the disc. a wall separating other of said switch assemblies 6. A multi-pole snap-acting switch comprising on the main base, the inside one oi said recesses a main insulating base, a. plurality of switch asaccommodating all of the switch assemblies, semblies carried on said base, parallel separating 5 means for fastening the auxiliary 'oase to the walls forming part of the base and separating main base through said separating wall, a row some of said switch assemblies, an auxiliary base of openings joining said recesses and extending formed with outside and inside recesses and havperpendicularly to said separating wall, shding ing therebetween a horizontal wall and a wall pins in said openings respectively, a snap-acting separating other of said switch assemblies on the spring disc carried in the outside recess and main base, the inside one of said recesses acnormally concave toward said pins and an equalcommodating all of theswitch assemblies, means izer bar in said outside recess resting upon said for fastening the auxiliary base to the main base pins, said outside recess being peripherally through its separating wall, a row of openings notched to guide the ends of the bar, lost motion joining said recesses and extending perpendicu- Hi engagement means between the disc and said larly to said separating wall, sliding pins in said equalizing bar, and a cover on said auxiliary base openings respectively, a snap-acting spring disc enclosing said outside recess, a bushing attached carried in the outside recess and normally conto said cover, sliding operating means in said cave toward said pins and an equalizer bar in bushing and a spring between said sliding opersaid outside recess resting upon said pins, said zo ating means and connected tc apply force resiloutside recess being peripherally notched to guide iently to said disc. the ends of the bar. 8. A multi-pole 'snap-acting switch comprising '1. A multile snap-acting switch comprisa plurality of biased spring switch arms, oper-f ing a main insulating base, a plurality of switch ating pins supported by said arms, a loosely assemblies carried on said base, parallel separat- 25 guided equalizer bar supported by said pins, and ing walls forming part of the base and separata snap-acting spring member cooperating with ing some of said switch assemblies, an auxillost motion withsaid equalizer bar. iary oase formed with outside and inside recesses JOHN O. MOORHEAD.

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