US2416626A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

Feb. l25', '1947'. M L, JEFFREY 2,416,626

swITcH Filed April 24, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. "MAX L. ff'FF/E'fy A from/,Sys

Feb. 25, l1947.

M. L. JEFFREY SWITCH iled Agrl 24, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 nga INVENTOR. MAX JEFF/PEV Feb. 25, '1947.

M. L. JEFFREY y SWITCH Filed April 24, 1943 INVENTOR. /VAX 'L JEFFREY ,BYH wam,

A TTQPIVEYS Patented Feb. 25, 1947 UNITED STATESl PATENT vor-'ricc SWITCH Max Leroy Jeffrey, Shaker Heights, Ohio, as-V signor to The National Acme Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 24,' 1943,"serial No. 484,376A

(c1. "i4-10c) 6 Claims.

has been encountered in designing a, switch hav-` ing a suitable snap action which will provide consistent reliable operation over long periods of time, carry relatively heavy currents and stillbe small enough in structure so as to utilize a minimum of space. Furthermore, these switches were not always adaptable to a large number of jobs..

each usually being designed for a specic installation.

It, is therefore an object of this invention to provide a snap action switch which takes up a minimum of space and has a large current carry-l ing capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of snap action switch which is simple in design and rugged in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch assembly where the actual switch mechanism may be operated by pushing a button or by turning a button and wherein the buttons are interchangeable to provide push or turn button operation at any of the stations.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved safetyswitch where there is no opportunity for an electric shock tothe operator.

Another object Vof the invention is `to provide a snap action switch where no partially open or closed positions are possible.

Still other objects of the invention and the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof `which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings and forms a part of this specification.

In certain aspects the invention is an improvement of my Patent No. 2,294,559 of September l.

Y'- In the drawings: 'Y Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a panel or escutcheon plate in which the switch of my invention is incorporated;

Fig. 211s a side elevational view of the panel of Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away and shown in sections and showing in side elevation the switches mounted on the back of the panel;

Fig. 3 is a rear view in elevation of the panel of the switch of Fig, 1 with two of the switches removed and showing a rear view of two types of the operating buttons;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one of the turn-type of button used in connection with the switch of my invention; s

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the button of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of one of the switch assemblies removed from the supporting panel and illustrating the side which is attached to the rear 4face of the panel;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan View of one of the switch assemblies with the bottom cover plate removed and showing the snap action "mechanism:

Fig. 8 isa top plan view of the switch mechanis'mwith the cover plate removed and showing the contactor mechanism;

y Fig. 9 is a vertical'medial section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the lines of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a side `view of a switch arm contact guide;

Fig. l2 is an end view of the contact carrying arm and rocker and their 'supporting shaft removed from the assembly;

Fig. 12a is a side elevational View thereof, and

Fig. 13 is a view of one of the contact carrying strips and contacts.

Throughout the drawings likeparts have been designated by like reference characters;

Generally speaking the apparatus adapts itself very efliciently to installations where switches are desired for starting, stopping or jogging a machine. In this case one switch assembly adapts itself for all three of the services mentioned. By substituting different buttons in the switch panel the switchcan be made to operate as a push button switch where you push to close the contacts ora push to open the contacts, operation being such that when the finger is removed from the button the switch returns to its former position; or a turn-type button such as shown in the jogrun position may be used which enables the switch contacts to remain in an opened or closed position depending on the direction and position to which the button'is turned. In any event, the same switch mechanism suffices for all operations.

Although a particular type of supporting panel or escutcheon plate is shown in the drawings, it will be observed that the number of stations is merely a matter of choice and they may be increased or decreased in number to suit the par-v ticular yconditions where control is desired.

In Fig. ,1, by way of illustration, I have shown a panel or escutcheonplat'e I 0 having edge open-f v aangezet.

the partition both being iockedftoth'pinfand adapted to yswing in unison. 'l

-thuszbe seen that whenthe..piri'2l is .pressed `The Amechanism for operatingl the rocker arm' 58 will rst be describedit being in many respects similar to that offmy-aforementionedpatent. The purpose is to provideimeans-'for-quiclrlyy rocking the shaft 51,' and through vit vthecontact carrying arm. rocker 58 isprovided with a pair of arms` 6G that extend laterally from the main body and a' flat roller engaging face 6| as best yshown 'inFig'fL Thek rocker is rotated by a springt pressed roller in the end of a leverywhich roller bears against the face 6|, The rocker 'is held agains'trojcking' byV pawls 62 until released by the leverfvr The pawls 62 arepivota-lly supportedvon` pinsi'lifatl points opposite the ends of the rocker, `the pins 63 being carriedr by the partition The ends- 60 of the rocker are provided with sharp edges 64 which are adaptedto'engage with shouldersy 65 on the pawls. The pawls are heldA spring-pressed towards the rocker Yby springs'ES interposed between the pawls andthe partition and seated on pins on the partitionV and in recesses in the sides of the pawls.

The member for rocking the rocker comprises a lever El which is provided with ya bifurcated end 68 that -is slidably engaged with a ycircular boss 69 connected to the end of the housing by a neck 10. The'space between the bifurcated ends provides for a close but sliding t with the circular boss 69. In the base of the lever there is provided a bore 12 which opens into the apex of the bifur cated portion and in which there is disposed a helical springs '13, one Yend of which seats against theV end of the bore 'l2 and the other end of which engages the boss 69. The other end of the lever is provided with a roller 'I4 journalled on a pin 15 that is seated in a U-shaped slot 16 extending transversely across the end of the lever.

It will thus be seen that the spring 13 holds the lever with the roller in spring-pressed engagement with the face 6| of the rocker.v Means, later described, isprovidedfor moving theV lever 61 about its fulcrum 6%. AIn this instance, looking at Fig. 7, the` lever 6l swings about the pivot 69 moving the roller 14 under pressure of the spring 13 across the face 6| of the rocker arm. When it passes the pivot point 51 ofthe rocker arm the spring `pressure tends to .rotate the rocker clockwise as viewed in theigure but such rota tionis prevented because the sharp edgelflis engaged against theY shoulder 65 of the pawl This allows a certain .amount of kinetic energy to be built up which is released when the Yside of the lever 61 hits the boss 16 on the end of the pawl 62 and releases the rocker which. is'then quickly rotated by the pressure of the spring .73. This movement lis transferred by the pin151 to the contact carrying `arm 591 During the-swinging movement the lever 61 can slide on its fulcrurn 69.

The lever 61 is moved by the plunger cr operating pin 2|. This pin as can best be seen in Figs. 7 and 10 is journalled in a pair of bosses 80 disposed in the side walls. One end of the pin is provided with a bore 8 I, in which a helical spring 82 is disposed, being engaged with the side wall 50 which closes the ends of the bore, and the other end being seated in the bottom of the bore 8|. This tends to urge the plunger 2| outward through the opposite side wall. The plunger is provided with a square notch 84, in its mid portion that opens toward the lever 61. A pin 85 is plvotally carried by the lever 6l and has a square head 86 that is seated in the notch 84. It will In effecting this y movement the inward that the wallsof thenotch84 engage the head 86 and through the p'inrocks the lever counterclockwise; and .thatwhen the pin is released the spring 82 returns. the plngervandthe lever `back to its original position..` j

As best shown in Fig. 9 the contact lever; which which `is pivotally supported by the pin 51 extendsupwardtherefrom between pairsof fixed contacts 88 which are'connected tothe termin-als 28 and-21. The endl ofthe arm;Figs;`12-13`, care ries pairs ofc'ontact strips or :bars 9|)l each of which has contacts 9| for making an electrical connection between the contacts 8B; It will -be ,understood at this time that as viewed in Fig. 48

only one of the fixedcontacts'of each pair 'cariA be seenbut that the other contact is immediately behind and'spa'ced therefrom.- The contacts 88 are secured in place in the end of v:the-housing Y by a block 89 which clamps the strips that carry the'contact bodies against theend of the housing,

a screw 89 extending through the housing and being threadedninto-th'e block,'as best illustrated in Fig. 9J These contacts-being adapted tol be engaged by the contactsl on each ofthe bars 901 As best shown in Figs. 8.9 and 13 the contacts 9| are carried by a bar 90. This bar is provided with notches at 92 'for-engagement with a contact retainer guide 93.' The Vcontact retainer guide 93, Fig. 11,lcomprises a-square loop 95the portions' 95a and `95h of which provideguides' for the contact.bar and Ithe end 95C `of which limits the 'outwardmovement contacts. "It is riveted to the lever ated' and the end^`95b extends through a notch in the end of the lever. The contact bars are thus movably supported on opposite sides of the'end of the'contact arm. The' contact arm is provided with a pair of openings 88 at theklend throughnwhich helical springs 99 extend-the ends' of the springs being engaged on pins on the backs of the bars, toV thus hold each'of the bars springe 'pressed toward the' sides 95e of the retainer loop 93. "Ihe'endr ofV the' lever moves in an arcuate direction between the fixed contactsgthere'fore, when thel springs are compressed due to the, movable contacts' being engaged with'` the Yfixed contacts it causes'the movable contacts to rst engage the fixed contacts off centerand then as the movable contactba'r slides on the straightv guide the movable contacts slide oriy the iixed contacts toward the center and finally come to rest in axial alignment with eachother. j In this manner the movable contacts engagethefixed contacts both on the' make'and break with 'a wiping action which assistsmaterially injkeeping the contacts clean and thus lengthensthe life.A

VvItwill thus be seen `that I improved'snap action mechanism which is'very simple in its' operation. Furthermore, I have provided va'simpleand yet rugged construction in a relatively small mechanism which allows the switch toV carry .currents exceedingly large for such a small mechanism. Furthermore, itwill be seen that due to the double chamber construction wherein the side having the contacts is isolated from the other mechanism that there is less danger from sparking due to the break of the contacts when the device is disposed in an explosive atmosphere, and no danger to the operator from the flash back.

It will also be seen that I have provided a push button control that is exceedingly versatile inashave provided anl switcnby merely substimtmga cam-type button and pin for thesimplebutton; I

Having thus describe'drmy invention I amA ait-fare that numerous andV extensive: 'depart-,tires` may be made therefrom Without. depa-rtingifrom. the'spirit or scope of the invention` asl'elaimedl herein..

@I claimtY I 1 y f A snap mechanism for' a switch or the' likev erroneo betweeny the?L lever 'andthev pivot @urging the lever toward. the rocker.

4; Arsnap action mechanism including vahous'-,V

ing, arocker member, pawls for.V alternate enf; gagemenftA` with the ends Vof 'the rocker member,

means to rockthe rocker member, comprising a,

v lever swingably disposed opposite vthe rocker comprising a supporna rocker, pivot meanscar; Y

rijed bythe-support tor-.supporting the rocker :on

f said supportizmeans for; rocking Ithe rocker including a lever, a rollerV carriedL bythe lever and engaging. the rocker, said ylever having 4one/end formed with a fork. having; spacedf parallel side. walls,I a pivot for the lever/carried'by the support and havingcurved surfaces, said forked por,

Mtion ofljthe' lever beingvdisposed -on said. lever.` l pivotand withthesides ,of-the forkirrtafngentiai Vengagement with the pivot,.spring means v disposed betvveenfthe lever andthe Apivot urgiingpthe member and having. aroller in. engagement there- 4 with, pivot means `for said lever comprising al boss carried by the housingsaid lever being formed.

' with asocket and seated on saidL boss andspring levertowarol the rocker, saidv lever being slidable f H -on said pivot, means forlstv-inging.saidj` lever cornprising a plunger., reciprocably carriedy by the sufpport, and a cross head carried. by saidlever,. said plunger being formed with. avvavior receiving said cross head and spring means for urging .said

plunger in a direction to` move said levert 2. A. snap mechanism for a switch. or the like comprising a support, a rocker, pivot means carried by the support for supporting the'rocker on saidsupport, means for rocking the rocker including alever, a roller carriedV by theV lever andy in engagement .with the rocker, said lever having. one. end formed. with asocketl comprising spaced parallel side Walls, apivot for the lever carried by the suppOrt and'. having. a. cylindrical surface, saidsocket portion ofthe lever being disposed on rsaid pivot and with the sides of the socket in tangential engagement with the pivot, said'vlever being formed with. anaxial; bore opening, toward the vpivot andv spring: meansl seated insaid bore and in.. engagement vwith the pivotY urgingY the. lever toward the rocker, said lever being sl'idable on said pivotr means .for swinging said levery cor-nprising a plunger reciprocably carriedbythe support and aV cross head carriedv by saidlever, said plunger being formedwithaway forV receiving said cross head 'and spring. meanslfor urging. said plunger ina direction. to move said` lever.. p

3`. A ysnap mechanism forr aswitch or therlike comprising a. support, a rocker., pivot means care ried by the support for supporting the .rocker on said support, means for Vrocking the'rocker in.-

Y cluding a lever, arollerlcarriedA by thelever and engagingv the rocker, said lever having .one end formed. Witha,y fork h-avingspaced. parallel. side Walls, a pivot for the lever carried by the support of the lever being.Y disposed .on said lever. pivot andwith the sidesof .thefork in tangential enmeans acting. between, the lever and; the bossto holdlfthe lever with. the roller in engagement with the rocker member, Y

51.I A svv-itchl of the Aclass;describedincluding a contact. carryinglarm and a; rocker for, moving said armV connected thereto, means for,mov-ing.v

said. rocker including a lever operatively disposed' in engagement therewith-,'pivot Vmeans for said lever including a boss, a forked end for said lever,

Said boss having` curved( sidesfor tangentialbear-l, ing engagement WiththeA inner sides ofsaid forked end, said lever being slidabl'e on said. boss and spring means disposed between the boss and the lever, urging the lever toward thegrocker.' .j

6j.. A housing'having a partition therethrough dividing the housing into chambers, switch means disposed in one ofA said chamberszand includinga swingable contact carrying member, means for pivotally supporting. and operating saidrcontact carrying member extending through said partir-,i

tion into the other chamber, means for rotating said carrying member disposed in (the other chamber and including a rocker disposed on the operating` member, lever means for operating said rocker comprising a swingable lever having end vengagement with the rocker and movableover the rocker surface to rock thesame, spring means andy having rcurved. surfaces, said forked' portion gagement with the pivot, springmeans disposed o ^v1,446,267'

for holding said lever in contact with the rocker,l and means for operating said lever including a plunger vslidably carried inV said. partition 'and having at leastv .one end. extending beyond the contines of the housing andl means on. said leverl connecting. said lever to. saidplunger.

Y Y REFERENCES dCITED i v v The following. referencesareoi record/in the lle of this patent: f

' Bentley k yAug.. 28,k

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