US2460087A - Snap-action electric switch - Google Patents

Snap-action electric switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US2460087A
US2460087A US676403A US67640346A US2460087A US 2460087 A US2460087 A US 2460087A US 676403 A US676403 A US 676403A US 67640346 A US67640346 A US 67640346A US 2460087 A US2460087 A US 2460087A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
contact
tongue
snap
snapper
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US676403A
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English (en)
Inventor
Hollis Gilbert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2460087A publication Critical patent/US2460087A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H5/00—Snap-action arrangements, i.e. in which during a single opening operation or a single closing operation energy is first stored and then released to produce or assist the contact movement
    • H01H5/04—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members
    • H01H5/18—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members by flexing of blade springs
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/18—Mechanical movements
    • Y10T74/18856—Oscillating to oscillating
    • Y10T74/18864—Snap action
    • Y10T74/18872—Plate spring
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/18—Mechanical movements
    • Y10T74/18888—Reciprocating to or from oscillating
    • Y10T74/18896—Snap action
    • Y10T74/18904—Plate spring

Definitions

  • This invention relates to snap-action electric switches of the kind in which the contact making member is formed as a spring member, constructed and arranged so as to have a tendency to snap over in one direction or the other when moved past a dead centre by the switch actuating member.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective form of switch of this character having a small number of parts and with improved electrical and mechanical periormance, a switch in accordance with the invention having a wiping action between contact surfaces at the instant of contact separation with rapid contact movement so as to improve the electrical performance while the mechanical arrangement ensures a minimum of wear.
  • the snapper is stamped out of a single thin sheet of spring metal and so distorted or mounted as to have a permanently stressed portion which is snapped backwards and forwards over a dead centre position in response to the switch operating mechanism.
  • the snapper may be in the form of 9. rectangular flexible framework having a pair of opposed inwardly extending tongues.
  • the op-- crating member is in the form of a wedge adapted to be forced between the tongues, thereby stressing the frame and causing it to snap into a bowed position.
  • the snapper may be formed from a single spring sheet, having a slit down its centre, and being crimped on one side of the slit.
  • the snapper is permanently stressed and has two alternative equilibrium or rest positions. When secured at one end and acted on by an external thrust it is caused to snap over to one or the other of these rest positions.
  • the snapper is stamped out to form three parallel elongated members joined at both ends by cross-members. The two external elongated members are shortened by crimping with the result that the central member is given a permanent bend susceptible to pressure by an operating member.
  • a central spring tongue anchored at one end and having a contact at the other is provided with compressed spring members, leading from the contact end and bearing against abutments in the switch housing.
  • An operating plunger bears against the spring through the switch housing.
  • Another known switch construction incorporates a tongue secured to a base and having two crimped side members extending parallel to it and London England joined at their free ends by a contact member.
  • a separate link member is provided between the contact to snap over.
  • the snapper is not intrinsically extensible so that the force required to operate it -must be applied from' an operating system rather than a single operating member. That is to say, assuming the snapper to be secured to or resting on abutments on the switch mounting, the operating member must also be pivoted to, or in some other way, exert its force relative to, the switch mounting.
  • the connecting link is an essential feature of the switch and operation by a single member not supported by the switch mounting is impossible.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an improved switch of excellent performance and having the minimum number of moving parts.
  • the snapper is formed from a single sheet of spring metal and is operated by a single operating member.
  • the snapper is made with two flexible and extensible side members joined at one end by a cross member which comprises one ofthe contacts of the switch and from which there ex tends inwardly a relatively rigid tongue-like member.
  • the other ends-of the flexible members are joined by a similar cross-i member provided with a similar inwardly-extending tongue, the free edges of the two tongues thus facing one another a short distance apart.
  • the single operating member which may be a partially rotatable dolly arm inv the case of the tumbler switch, or a grooved rod'in the case of a push-pull switch is located between the two tongues or between the tongue and the abutment in the case of a tumbler switch, where a fixed abut- .a wall or the like.
  • the snapper In the case of a double pole switch, the snapper is symmetrical and has contacts at each end. In one position these contacts rest on corresponding fixed contacts in the switch housing and (for example), a grooved rod is located between the two inwardly facing tongues. Movement of this rod causes pivoting of the two tongues in opposite directions, flexion and extension of the side members, and the snapper snaps over to its alternative position resting on a second pair of fixed contacts within the switch housing.
  • FIG. 2 represents pleted switch
  • Figure 3 represents a front view of the completed switch, with the cover removed.
  • Figure 4 is a section on the line AA in Figure 2.
  • Figure 5 shows the operative components of the switch.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a base I and a cover 2, which may be made of any suitable insulating material, as may the dolly arm or switch operating member 3. Screws and screwholes I are provided for attaching the cover to the base, and the base itself is provided with screwholes 5 by means of, which it may be secured in position on All of this is conventional a front view of the compractice.
  • Figure 3 shows a front view of the switch with the cover off.
  • Two terminals 6, 6' to take the leads of the circuit in which the switch is to be inserted, are attached to fixed and moving contacts I and 1 respectively.
  • the dolly arm 3 acts on the moving contact 1' so as to make and break contact between the contacts 1 and 1', according to the position of the arm 3.
  • the moving contact I is constructed of thin spring metal, such as a beryllium-copper alloy,
  • switch is formed by a single stamping so as to form a contact consisting essentially of four main parts, namely,”'two flexible and extensible side members 8, a, comparatively rigid link member 9, and
  • the fixed contact 1 is formed with a hole l2 by means of which it may be secured to the terminal 6, It may be made of any suitable metal such bronze, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 5, is slotted so that a certain amount of resilience is imparted to the actual contact surfaces t3, the under surfaces of which co-operatewith the upper surfaces of the tongue-like member Ill, when the switch is closed.
  • the tongue Ill may be formed with a stiffening groove I 4, adapted to coincide with the gap between the contact surfaces l 3 of the contact member 1.
  • the dolly arm or operating lever 3 is formed with two grooves or recesses l5 and I6, and is mounted in the switch ( Figure 4) so that the inwardly projecting ends of the link member 9 and the tongue-like members Ill engage in the recesses I5 and I6 respectively.
  • lever 3 may be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction until the upper surface I! of the recess I5 bears upon the fixed tongue 9.
  • This rotation causes a corresponding opposite rotation of the tongue-like member ID and tension and extension of the flexible side members 8, until the member ID passes the dead-centre position after which it snaps over to break contact between i3 and I4, finishing in a position substantially as shown in full lines in Figure 4.
  • the invention is not to be limited to the as phosphor- I held between and by the'edge foregoing details of construction, which are given by way of example only.
  • a snap-action electric switch having a fixed and a movable contact mounted on an insulatlng base, the improvement which comprises flexible and extensible side members, one of the said cross-members being anchored to the insulating base and the other being adapted to make contact with the said fixed contact, and an operating member adapted to engage with the opposed edges of the tongues being freely held between and by the said tongues.
  • a snap-action electric switch having a fixed and a movable contact mounted on an insulating base
  • the improvement which comprises constructing the said movable contact in the form of a snapper from a single piece of spring metal, the said snapper being in the form of a frame having a pair of flexible and extensible side members linked at their ends by cross-members, a comparatively rigid tongue extending inwardly from one of the cross-members to a point intermediate of the said flexible and extensible side members, the other cross-member being anchored to the insulating base, and the cross-member from which the tongue extends being adapted to make contact with the said fixed contact, a fixed abutment being provided on the base in such manner that the edge of the rigid tongue faces the abutment and an operating member adapted to engage with the edge of the tongue and the abutment being freely held between and by the edge of the ri id tongue and the said abutment.
  • a snap-action electric switch having a fixed and a movable contact mounted on an insulating base
  • the improvement which comprises constructing the said movable contact in the form of a, snapper from a single piece of spring metal, the said snapper having a crossmember adapted to make contact with the said fixed contact, a pair of flexible and extensible side members extending from the cross-member and being anchored at their free ends to the insulating base, a comparatively rigid tongue extending inwardly from the cross member between and to a point intermediate oi the side members, a fixed abutment being provided on the base in such manner that the edge oithe.
  • the movable contact being constructed in the form of a snapper from a single piece of spring metal, the said snapper being in the form of a frame having a pair of cross members linked by a pair of transversely corrugated side members, comparatively rigid tongues extending inwardly from the cross-members to points intermediate of the corrugated side members, one of the said cross-members being anchored to the insulating base and the other being adapted to make contact with the fixed contact, an operating member having grooves adapted to engage the opposed edges of the tongues being freely held between and by the said tongues.
  • a snap-action electric switch comprising a fixed "and a movable contact mounted on an insulating base, the movable contact being constructed in the form of a snapper from a single piece of spring metal, the said snapper being in the form of a frame having a pair of cross members linked by a pair of transversely corrugated side members, comparatively rigid tongues extending inwardly from the cross-members to points intermediate of the corrugated side members, one of the said cross-members being anchored to the insulating base, and the other being adapted to make contact with the fixed contact, an operating member in the form of a dolly-arm having grooves adapted to engage the opposed edges of the tongues being freely held between and by the said tongues, the positions and sizes of the grooves being such that the tongue projecting from the anchored crossmember serves to limit the possible degree of rotation of the dolly arm by bearing against one of the surfaces of the corresponding groove,

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Tumbler Switches (AREA)
US676403A 1945-06-26 1946-06-13 Snap-action electric switch Expired - Lifetime US2460087A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB16321/45A GB594114A (en) 1945-06-26 1945-06-26 Improvements in snap-action electric switches

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2460087A true US2460087A (en) 1949-01-25

Family

ID=10075189

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US23412D Expired USRE23412E (en) 1945-06-26 Snap-action electric switch
US676403A Expired - Lifetime US2460087A (en) 1945-06-26 1946-06-13 Snap-action electric switch

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US23412D Expired USRE23412E (en) 1945-06-26 Snap-action electric switch

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (2) US2460087A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE466119A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH262900A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE808600C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES173971A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR929672A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB594114A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL70471C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2537682A (en) * 1946-09-24 1951-01-09 Ljungfeldt Bror Ake Hilding Electric switch
US2695524A (en) * 1951-01-05 1954-11-30 Honeywell Regulator Co Alternate action snap mechanism
US2750802A (en) * 1956-06-19 Alternate action mechanism
US3082303A (en) * 1959-11-19 1963-03-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Wiring device for control of circuit continuity
US3207868A (en) * 1962-02-28 1965-09-21 Cutler Hammer Inc Snap action electric switch mechanism
US3878347A (en) * 1974-02-04 1975-04-15 Otto Engineering Electrical switch
US4130747A (en) * 1977-10-12 1978-12-19 Mcgill Manufacturing Company, Inc. Miniature overtravel snap action switch with pivotal cam mounting for the switch blade

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2734958A (en) * 1956-02-14 Switch
US2684843A (en) * 1950-05-16 1954-07-27 Mason Electric Corp Snap action device
NL73486C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1951-04-26
US2629791A (en) * 1951-06-16 1953-02-24 Tourneau Robert G Le Snap switch
US2743332A (en) * 1951-10-20 1956-04-24 Torres Clemente Switches
US3094594A (en) * 1958-03-10 1963-06-18 James P Watson Snap acting mechanism
US2949035A (en) * 1958-12-11 1960-08-16 Gen Motors Corp Windshield wiper actuating mechanism
US3178530A (en) * 1963-05-09 1965-04-13 Gen Electric Snap-action electric toggle switch
GB1103101A (en) * 1963-08-29 1968-02-14 Smiths Industries Ltd Improvements in or relating to snap action electric switches
CH648953A5 (fr) * 1982-07-09 1985-04-15 Portescap Interrupteur electrique a ressort de contact prearme.
GB8717626D0 (en) * 1987-07-24 1987-09-03 Strix Ltd Hot water jug
US7400477B2 (en) * 1998-08-24 2008-07-15 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Method of distribution of a circuit interrupting device with reset lockout and reverse wiring protection
MX2010013886A (es) 2008-07-07 2011-02-15 Leviton Manufacturing Co Dispositivo interruptor de circuito de falla.

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1960020A (en) * 1933-03-29 1934-05-22 Burgess Lab Inc C F Snap switch
US2167543A (en) * 1937-08-23 1939-07-25 George H Bugenhagen Electric switch
US2194533A (en) * 1937-11-10 1940-03-26 Ranco Inc Control apparatus
US2204949A (en) * 1938-01-08 1940-06-18 Micro Switch Corp Control system for a plurality of motors
US2332911A (en) * 1942-03-18 1943-10-26 Gen Electric Snap action device
US2387089A (en) * 1942-11-05 1945-10-16 Vapor Car Heating Co Inc Snap action switch
US2395698A (en) * 1943-12-18 1946-02-26 Walter J Mathieu Electric switch

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1960020A (en) * 1933-03-29 1934-05-22 Burgess Lab Inc C F Snap switch
US2167543A (en) * 1937-08-23 1939-07-25 George H Bugenhagen Electric switch
US2194533A (en) * 1937-11-10 1940-03-26 Ranco Inc Control apparatus
US2204949A (en) * 1938-01-08 1940-06-18 Micro Switch Corp Control system for a plurality of motors
US2332911A (en) * 1942-03-18 1943-10-26 Gen Electric Snap action device
US2387089A (en) * 1942-11-05 1945-10-16 Vapor Car Heating Co Inc Snap action switch
US2395698A (en) * 1943-12-18 1946-02-26 Walter J Mathieu Electric switch

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2750802A (en) * 1956-06-19 Alternate action mechanism
US2537682A (en) * 1946-09-24 1951-01-09 Ljungfeldt Bror Ake Hilding Electric switch
US2695524A (en) * 1951-01-05 1954-11-30 Honeywell Regulator Co Alternate action snap mechanism
US3082303A (en) * 1959-11-19 1963-03-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Wiring device for control of circuit continuity
US3207868A (en) * 1962-02-28 1965-09-21 Cutler Hammer Inc Snap action electric switch mechanism
US3878347A (en) * 1974-02-04 1975-04-15 Otto Engineering Electrical switch
US4130747A (en) * 1977-10-12 1978-12-19 Mcgill Manufacturing Company, Inc. Miniature overtravel snap action switch with pivotal cam mounting for the switch blade

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE808600C (de) 1951-07-16
BE466119A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1900-01-01
ES173971A1 (es) 1946-08-16
GB594114A (en) 1947-11-03
FR929672A (fr) 1948-01-05
NL70471C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1900-01-01
USRE23412E (en) 1951-09-25
CH262900A (fr) 1949-07-31

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