US2417200A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

March 11,1947. HORMAN 2,417,200

SWITCH Filed Aug. 10, 1944 INVE TOR i Z4 M T 74 Patented Mar. 11, 1947 swrron John 11. Roman, Tnckalioe, N.Y., assignor, by memo assignments, to Allied Control Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 10, 1944, Serial No. 548,839

6 Claims.

This invention relates to switches.

A certain type of switch consists of an oscillatable bridging member which is movable between two positions in one of which the ends of the bridging member engage one pair of contacts and in the other of which the ends of the bridging member engage a different pair of contacts. Such type switch is often embodied in a relay structure with the bridging member being carried by an osciilatable armature.

An object of this invention is a mounting for the bridging member of this type switch so that definite engagement of the bridging member ends with the contacts is assured.

In a switch embodying the invention, the

bridging member is provided with an opening in which is received the end of an oscillatable shaft. A resilient member is fixed to said shaft and has its ends connected to the ends of the bridging member. The bridging member is provided with a pair of contacts at each end and a pair of stationary contacts is provided for engagement by each set of bridging member contacts. Oscillation of the shaft is effected by any suitable means such, for example, as the armature of a rotary magnet and rotary movement is transmitted from the shaft to the bridging member through the medium of the resilient member. The design is such that the shaft has a certain amount of overtravel so that when the shaft comes to rest the bridging member contacts are pressed into engagement with the stationary contacts under tension exerted by the resilient member.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a rotary type relay equipped with a switch embodying the inven= tion;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification;

Fig. is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. i, and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. a.

The relay embodies a coil and armature 'arrangement not specifically shown and this particular structure is not part of this invention. The armature is supported by an oscillatable shaft ID on which is mounted a contact bridging member II. The shaft Hihas a cylindrical axial recess I2 with opposed radial slots I3 leading therefrom to the exterior of the shaft. Two

2 thin resilient plates I4 and I5 fit into the slots I3 and have semi-cylindrical offset portions I6 and Il fitting the cylindrical recess I2 and serving to prevent radial movement of the plates. A second pair of heavier but resilient metal plates l8 and I9 have semi-cylindrical ofisets 20 and 2| surrounding the shaft I0 with substantial clearance between the shaft and the plates. The plates IE and I5, I8 and I9 are interconnected at their ends and carry contacts 22 and 23. Preferably, the plates Id and I5 are of slightly greater width centrally than the plates I8 and I9. The central portions of the plates i6 and I5 rest on a shoulder 24 on the shaft Ill and are engaged by the nut 25 on the shaft whereby the bridging member M is supported by the shaft.

A pair of stationary contacts as are provided for alternate engagement by the contacts 22 and a similar pair of stationary contacts Z'I are provided for alternate engagement by the contacts 23. The shaft II is rotated clockwise electromagnetically to establish engagement between the bridging member ii and one combination of stationary contacts 26 and 2t and is rotated counterclockwise by a spring 28 to establish engagement between the member II and the remaining set of contacts 26 and 21. A slight over= travel of the shaft #0 beyond that necessary to establish engagement between the movable and stationary contacts is permitted by the resiliency of the plates 9% and I5 as well as by the clearance between the shaft I2 and the portions 26 and 25 of the plates it? and i9.

In the modification of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the shaft is is provided with a slot 29 in which is received a length of resilient wire 3%] bent into the shape shown in Fig. 6. From one end of the slot 29, the wire at overlies the periphery of the shaft it clockwise for and then extends radially while from the other end of the slot 2!) the wire (it follows the periphery of the shaft it counterclockwise for 270 and then extends radially, The bridging member 3i consists of two thin metal plates 32 each provided with a semi-cylindrical ofiset 33 and end contacts 343. The two plates 32 are interconnected as shown in Fig. 5, thereby forming a central aperture through which the shaft Ill extends. The member 31 is at right angles to the slot 29 and the ends 35 of the wire 30 are bent parallel to the axis of the shaft Ill and are aihxed to the member II by any suitable means such, for example, as welds. This arrangement allows for slight overtravel of the shaft It in the same manner as above described.

asiaeoo I 3 The arrangementherein disclosed is simple and inexpensive but eflectively assures definite en easement of the movable contacts 22 and 28 with the stationary contacts 263 and 2?. This assur ance is obtained by having the extent of rotary travel of the shaft iii slightly greater than is necessary normally to establish engagement between the movable and stationary contacts. By reason of this permissible overtravel, the movable contacts are definitely brought into encasement with the stationary contacts and are held in engage ment by the tension exerted by the resilient mem bers id and it in the first modification and ml in the second modification.

E claim:

i. In a switch, a slotted rotatable shaft, a member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said member comprising a pair of interconnected metal plat/es having centrally arranged semi cylindrical ofisets defining an aperture receiving said shaft, a resilient element arranged in the shaft slot and having its ends attached to the ends of said member, a pair of stationary contacts on either side of each end of said member, and means to efiect rotation of said shaft,

2. A switch according to claim 1 characterized by the shaft slot being at right angles to said member and said element being bent around said shaft in opposite directions from the ends of said slot over a p rtion of the shaft periphery.

3. In a switch, a slotted rotatable shaft, a memher having an opening receiving said shaft, 9. re-

silient element arranged in the shaft slot and having its ends attached to the ends of said membar, a pair of stationary contacts on either side of each end of said member and means to eflect rotation of said shaft.

4. A switch according to claim 3 characterized by the shaft slot being at right angles to said member and said element being bent around said shaft in opposite directions from. the ends of said slot over a portion of the shaft periphery;

5. A switch comprising a slotted rotatable shaft having a central recess, a resilient element fitted into the shaft slot and having an enlarged 'portion fitting said recess, a member consisting of a pair of plates having opposed semi-cylindrical onsets forming an aperture rotatably receiving said shaft, said plates being connected at their ends to said element, a pair of stationary contacts at either side of each end of said member, and means to efiect rotation of said shaft.

6. A switch accordineto claim 5 in which said resilient element comprises two thin plates having centrally opposite semi-cylindrical portions fitting said recess. JOHN H. HORMAN.

REFERENGIES CITED The following referencesare of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,824,178 Taylor Sept. 22, 1931 781,416 Gregory Jan. 31, 1905

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