US2579168A

US2579168A - Key lock for push-button switches

Info

Publication number: US2579168A
Application number: US117596A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard P Ballou
Original assignee: Federal Electric Products Co
Current assignee: Federal Electric Products Co
Priority date: 1948-08-05
Filing date: 1949-09-22
Publication date: 1951-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1968-12-18

Description

Dec. 18, 1951 R. P. BALLOU KEY LOCK FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1948 INVENTOH P/CHA/PD P. 5/14/00 Dec. 18, 1951 R. P. BALLOU 2,579,168

KEY LOCK FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCHES Original Filed Aug. 5, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l-P/CHARD F5 EALAOU amen,

Dec. 18, 1951 R. P. BALLOU KEY LOCK FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1948 Patented 33cc. 1%, 1951 KEY LOCK FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCHES Richard P. Ballou, Hartford, Conn.,

assignor to Federal Electrid Products Company, Newark,

N. .L, a corporation Original application An 42,718. Divided and her 22, 1949, Serial No.

14 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to push button stations which are used in conjunction with electrically operated apparatus.

A push button station ordinarily comprises, in one enclosure, an assembly of manually operable switches and may include one or more push button switches, for example, a start switch and a stop switch manually operable by push buttons, a rotary selector switch which is usually actuated by a manually operable rotary knob, and one or more pilot lights. However, a push button station may be provided only with push button switches or only with rotary switches or only with pilot lights, or with any combination of such elements. Furthermore, these elements may be mounted in different positions within the enclosure. Also, one or more of the push buttons, especially the stop button, may have mushroom heads, and various other devices, such as interlocks, lock-offs, or key locks may be added. Heretofore, the various elements and modifications usually required that the enclosure be provided with openings of different sizes. For this reason, it was heretofore necessary for the manufacturer either to manufacture the push button stations on order, in accordance with the requirements specified in advance with the order, or to keep in stock a very large number, say several hundred, different covers in order to satisfy the difierent requirements of push button stations equipped with various elements or with different numbers of elements.

One object of the present invention is to reduce the number of different covers necessary to meet the different requirements of various push button stations. Another object is to provide a station that may be mounted either in a vertical position or in a horizontal position and yet have all markings or functional designations of the elements disposed horizontally for normal reading thereof. Another object is the provision of a mechanical design whereby the same elements can be provided either in a station of the surface type or in a flush station, with minimum adaptation requirements. A further object is to provide a station which eliminates the requirements for name or designation plates for the switches or pilot lights.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved key lock device for one or more switches of a push button station.

Another object of the invention is to provide a push button station in which one or more of the push buttons may be provided with heads of the mushroom type, the push buttons of said type being of improved constructions, particularly in gust 5, 1948, Serial No.

this application Septemfor adjacent push button switches of a push button station in order to prevent the simultaneous operation of both switches, the switch casings of the interlock being of such character as to enable the interlock to be mounted in position without the use of fastening devices or other fittings.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a push button station embodying the present invention, said station being shown in vertical position, and the functional designations or legends being horizontally disposed for correct reading;

Fig. 2 is an inner plan view of the cover, removed from the frame of the enclosure, showing also the key lock;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. 2, one of the push buttons being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views on the lines 5-5 and 6-45, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a front view, in elevation, of the push button station, showing the same in horizontal position, and showing the functional designations or legends in horizontal positions for the correct reading thereof;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a push button switch, on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fi 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a selector or rotary switch, on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 11 is a sectional of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a sectional of Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 13, the push button being shown locked in retracted position, a part of the head of the push view on the line H-ll view on the line 13-43 awaits button being cut away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. is a sectional of Fig. 7;

Figs. 16 and 17 are perspective views of releasable holding elements of the push button and rotary switches, respectively;

Fig. 18 is a front View of a push button station of the flush type;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line Iii-l9 of Fig. 18, the switches being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 20 is a perspective sectional view on the line 20-40 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a perspective sectional view on the line 2l-2l of Fig.19; and

Fig. 22 is an end view of the operating member of the selector switch, the operating knob being removed. 1

Referring now to the drawings in. detail, there view on the line 55-45 is shown a push button station "101 The enclosure l2 is in the form of a frame having similar end Walls l4 and I6 and a rear wall l8 of the same width as said end walls. As here shown, the cover 20 of the enclosure is U-shaped in cross section having the front part 22 and the side parts 24. The end walls [4 and I6 of the frame l2 are provided with screw threaded brackets 26,

and the front part 22 of the cover is provided with apertures 28 to receive screws which engage the brackets 26, respectively, for securing the cover 20 to the frame l2. Said frame and its cover are preferably formed of sheet metal, and knockouts 30 may be provided in each of the end walls I2 and I6 and, if desired, in the rear or side wall l8, for wiring the elements of the push button station to the electrical devices which are operable under the control of the switches of the station.

Pursuant to one of the objects of the present invention all of the openings in cover 20 are of the same size. More particularly, as here shown, the push button station is provided with a plurality of push button switches, indicated at 32- 34, 36, 38 and 40, with a rotary or selector switch, the rotary knob of which is indicated at 42,-and with a translucent pilot light cover indicated at 44. The pilot light (not shown) may be mounted in any suitable way on wall 48. The openings in cover 20 which, as stated, are of the same size are indicated by the

numerals

32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, and 44a, respectively. With the exception of opening 42a, a ring is secured in each of the cover openings, said rings being indicated at 32b, 34b, 36b, 38b, 40b and 441). Each ring has a snug fit in the companion cover opening and has its inner end bent over at the inner side of cover 20 as indicated at 46 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 6), the peripheral shoulder 41 of each ring abutting the outer surface of the cover. As shown in Fig. 15, ring 44b for the pilot light cover 44 is inter nally threaded for holding said pilot cover in position.

Rings

32b, 34b, 36b, 38b and 46b constltute guard and guide rings for the companion push buttons, respectively, and project forwardly of the front 22 of the station cover. Ordinarily, with the exception of the stop button ring 32b, these rings are of such axial extent that the outer ends of said rings are substantially flush with the outer ends of the push buttons. However, in the case of the stop button 32, the companion ring 32b is shorter than the other rings in order that the stop button may project beyond the outer end of the ring so that the stop button is more easily accessible for operation. It

will be understood, that as usual, the push but= tons are movable axially of the companion openings through which they project and, of course, axially of the companion rings which are secured in said openings.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the rotary knob 42 of the selector switch is disposed directly in the cover opening 62a and has a peripheral flange 48 which overlaps the adjacent inner surface of the cover part 22 for preventing removal of said knob through cover opening 32a, It will be observed that the push buttons of the rotary knob 42a are each provided with an appropriate legend or functional designation engraved on or otherwise applied thereto. As illustrated by Figs. 1 and '7, these legends are horizontally disposed, for correct reading, both when the station is mounted vertically, that is when the row of cover openings extends vertically, as shown in Fig. 1, and also when said station is mounted horizontally, that is when the row of said openings extends horizontally, as shown in Fig. '7. The manner in which this desirable result is acomplished, pursuant to one of the objects of the present invention, will now be described. Although the push button 32 is shown as of the mushroom type, it will be understood that said push button may be of the same type as the other push buttons. Referring first to the push button switches which are operable by axial movement of their push buttons,

' respectively, each of said switches may be of the construction illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, l2 and 19. Each push button switch comprises an insulation casing 50 which is provided with a pair of stationary contacts 52, 52a and another pair of stationary contacts 54, 54a. A movable bridging contact 56 is movable longitudinally between. said pairs of contacts for engagement therewith or disengagement therefrom, according to the requirements of the circuit controlled by the particular switch. As shown in Fig. 8, bridging contact 56 is normally in engagement with contacts 52, 52a. Said bridging contact is connected by a shouldered screw pin 58 to the stem 60 of the push button. A spring 62 normally holds contact 56 in engagement with contacts 52, 52a and also holds the companion push button in its forward or projected position.

Although the push button may be turned about its axis, for the purpose which will be presently described, contact member 56 is not turned but is held in alignment with the stationary contacts, by the adjacent inner surface portions of the switch casing 50 as will be readily apparent from an inspection of Fig. 12. In this connection it will be observed that contact member 56 has a central opening 64 through which pin 58 projects and that a spring 66 holds said contact member against the head of said pin, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the stem 60 in non-circular and projects through a similarly shaped opening 68 of a retaining disk 10. This disk is provided with a pair of ribs 12 and a pair of ribs 14 which are at right angles to each other and which engage the casing 56 in grooves 16 and HI, the last mentioned grooves being at right angles to grooves 16. Spring 62 which holds the push button in its outwardly projected position bears at one end thereof against the conofronting surface of retaining member In and bears at its other end against the bottom of an inner circumferential recess provided in the push button as indicated at 80.

When it is desired to adjust the push button in amazes order that its legend which is marked thereon may be horizontally positioned, as hereinbefore referred to, for correct reading thereof, said push button is turned about its axis through 90. Dur ing this turning movement the rounded ribs I2 and I4 of the disk I move out of the grooves I6 and I8 in which they were positioned, and at the end of the 90 turning movement of the push button said ribs again enter said grooves, by reason of the pressure of spring 62 on member I0, for releasably holding the push button in its adjusted position. The stop button 32, which is of the mushroom type as hereinafter is more particularly described, and is not integral with or otherwise immovably fixed to the axially movable stem, is adjusted in the same way as the other push buttons as will be readily understood, it being noted in this connection that the stem 60a and the part 602) correspond to the stem 60 .and the push button of the construction illustrated in Fig. 8.

As hereinbefore indicated the knob or manually operable part 42 of the rotary selector switch may also be positioned for correct reading in either the vertical or horizontal mounting of the push button station. In this connection it will be noted that the knob 42 carries the legends for, oil and rev. which of course mean forward, "off," and reverse, respectively. In order to enable the knob 42 to be correctly positioned said knob is provided with a non-circular, preferably square recess 82 (Fig. 10), and the rotary stem 84 by which the selector switch is actuated is provided at its forward end with a non-circular projection 86 which has a removable fit in said recess. Also, as herein shown a removable set screw 88 may be provided for removably securing knob 42 to the switch-actuating stem 84. It will be understood that the selector switch may be of any suitable construction and includes a plulurality of relatively movable contacts (not shown) for making the desired switch connections. However, it is preferred that the casing 90 of the selector switch be of the same size and external configuration as the casing of the sev-- eral push button switches, as shown for example in Fig. 19. The cross section of stem 84 is noncircular and has a sliding fit in a correspondingly non-circular opening 92 in a releasable retaining member 94 (Figs. 10, 11 and 17). Retaining member 94 is provided with a pair of rounded projections 96 which are engageable in the recesses 9B and grooves which correspond to the grooves 16, and T8 of casing 50. Referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that casing 50 of the push button switch is also provided with recesses 98 which, however, are not used in the case of the push button switches since the ribs I2 and 14 of the push button retaining members I0 are longer than recesses 98. On the other hand, the projections 96 of the retaining member 94 of the selector switch can enter recesses 98 as well as grooves I6 and I8. In this connection it will be understood that the provision of the recesses 98 as well as the grooves in the push button switch casings 50 and in the selector switch casings 90 enable the casings produced by the same mold to be used either as casings of the push button switches or casings of the selector switches. As in the case of the push button switch, a spring I00 holds the retaining member 94 in position but allows said member'to be turned by stem 84. More particularly, as shown in Fig. 10, one end of spring I00 bears against member 94 and the other end of said spring bears against the end wall of the recess M2 in the enlarged integral cylindrical part I04 of stem 84. As shown by -Figs. 10, ii. and 22, said part I04 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves I06, I08, H0, H2 and H4, in which a locking member of a key-lock hereinafter described is engaged for locking knob 42 in a desired position. Grooves I06, I08 and H0 are used for the 3-position selector switch indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, while grooves H2 and H4 are used for the 2-130- sition selector switch the knob of which is indicated at 42' in Figs. 18 and 19. This feature of the invention will be subsequently more specifically described.

As hereinbefore indicated, may be provided with a stop button of the mushroom type. Since the head of such button is larger than the opening 32a of cover 20, it is necessary to attach the button to the push button stem a after the cover is placed in position, and this in turn requires provision for removably attaching the button to said stem. Also, it will be understood that it is necessary to detach this button from the switch-actuating stem in order to effect the removal of cover 20 from frame I2. The construction provided for accomplishing these results is illustrated in Fig. 13. As here shown the shank I I6 of the button is attached to metal cap IIB by a screw I20 and a lock washer I22. For this purpose shank I I6 is provided with a recess having a screw-threaded metal insert I24 therein. Cap II8 has an internally screw threaded flange I 26 which engages a complementary screw-threaded portion on the forward end of the head 60b of stem 60a. A recess I30 is provided in the end of head 60b to receive the head of the fastening screw I20. It will be noted that the outer peripheral surface of cap H8 is flush with the outer cylindrical surface of head 60?) forming a unit which has a movable fit, with push button station proper clearance, in guard ring 3217. In the attachment of the push button to the switch-actuating stem 60a, when the cover 20 is in position, the button 32 and cap I I8 are first attached to each other by screw I20 sufficiently tight to prevent free relative movement of said button and cap but loose enough to allow the button to be turned. Then the cap I I8 having the push button fastened thereto is screwed onto the head 60b of the stem, and since the screw threads of said cap and head are rather coarse, the edge of the cap abutting the shoulder I32 at the base of the screw-threaded portion of said head 60b provides a definite stop against further turning movement of said cap in the same direction on said head. The push button 32 is then turned until the stop legend, engraved or otherwise applied thereto, is in the proper horizontal reading position, according to Fig. l or Fig. '7, as may be required, after which the cap and button assembly is unscrewed from the stem head 60b to permit tightening of the fastening screw I20 to tightly secure the button 32 to said cap in the correct reading adjustment thereon. Finally the cap II8 having the button 32 thus tightly fastened thereto is again screwed onto head 60b, completing the operation of attaching the button to the switch-actuating stem for operation and with the "stop legend in the correct position. It will be understood that once the button 32 is thus secured to stem 60a, with the correct adjustment for the horizontal reading position of the legend, the button may be turned in the same manner as the other push buttons in case it is desired to change the push button station from a vertical mounting as shown in Fig. 1 to a horizontal mounting as shown in Fig.7, or vice versa.

The push button station may be provided with a lock-off device as indicated above. This device is shown in Figs. 1, 7, 13 and 14 and will now be described. Said lock-off device comprises the guard ring 32b which in this case is provided with a slot I32 through which the part I34 of a lock-off member I36 is movable with slight clearance.

push button having been moved inwardly, locking member I36 is moved so as to project its part I34 through opening I32 from the position shown in Fig. 13 to the position shown in Fig. 14, in overlying relation to the front surface of cap II8, until the arcuate end I46 of said part I34 engages the shank II6 of the push button. A nib or small projection I48 is provided on part I34 of said locking member so that the latter is not movable by gravity when the push button station is in the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 7. It will be understood however that a rather slight but positive pull on the locking member I36 is suflicient to overcome the retaining effect of nib I48 when it is desired to retract the locking member from its locking or projected position shown in Fig. 14 to its retracted or unlocked position shown in Fig. 13.

Referring to Figs. 18 to 20, there is shown a push button station of the flush type. Said station comprises a cover I50 and a frame I52 to which said cover may be removably secured in the usual way as by screws I54. Said cover may be made of sheet metal, as in the case of cover 20 of push button station I described above, but

it may be desirable to provide a cover which is cast, for example an aluminum or zinc casting. When the cover is cast it is desirably thicker than the sheet metal cover and the holes in the cover for the switch and other elements are preferably slightly larger than the push buttons which are of the same diameter as those referred to above in the description of push button station I0. Such larger holes cannot properly accommodate the pilot light cover 44 or the selector switch knob 42' when, in accordance with one or more of the objects of the present invention, said last-mentioned elements are of the same size and constructions as those used in a push button station of a specifically different construction, such as that shown in Fig. 1, for example. Accordingly, in order to enable these elements to be used interchangeably either with a sheet metal cover or with a cast metal cover additional elements are provided. In order to mount the pilot light cover in position, an internally screwthreaded ring I56 is fastened to the station cover I50 in any suitable way as by screws I58. In the case of the selector switch, the knob 42 thereof which is of the same size and construction as knob 42, hereinbefore described, is mounted in a flanged ring I60 which is fastened to the front of cover I50 in any suitable way as by screws I62. It will be noted that the flange 48 of knob 42' is mounted between the front flange I64 of ring I60 and the marginal surface of cover I50 around the cover opening I66. The thickness of the cover I60 results in the selector switch knob 32' being spaced from the end 86 of the switch= actuating stem whereby the latter cannot be fitted into the recess 82 of said knob in the manner herein described with reference to Fig. 10. This difficulty is overcome in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a removable connecting member I68 shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Said connecting member I68 comprises a part I10 which fits into recess 82 in the knob, and a part I12 which fits on the end portion 86 of the selector switch-actuating stem, as clearly seen in Fig. 20.

A mechanical interlock may be provided between any two adjacent push button switches. An interlock device I14, made according to the present invention is illustrated in the push button station shown by Figs. 18 and 19. It will be noted that the switch casings are provided with grooves I16 (Figs. 9, 19 and 21), and that the interlock device I14 includes a fiat plate-like part I18 which has a slidable fit in the two confronting grooves I16 of two adjacent switches. A cross member I80 is pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on a shouldered pivot member I82 which is secured to part I18. As illustrated in Fig. 19, the opposite end portions of cross member I80 are in the paths of movement of

buttons

32 and 34 of the adjacent switches respectively.

- Cross member I80 allows either push button to be depressed but prevents simultaneous depression of both push buttons. In this connection, it will be understood that if only one push button is depressed cross member I can move on its pivot I82 and therefore offers no impediment to the movement of one push button at a time, while on the other hand if an attempt is made to depress both push buttons by an amount sufiicient to actuate their switches, the lower ends of both push buttons simultaneously 'engage the opposite ends of said cross member so that the latter cannot be moved out of the path of either of the two push buttons, thus preventing movement of said push buttons to the extent required for the operation of the companion switches respectively. It will be noted that the interlock device I14 may be readily placed in position between any two switches and may be easily removed when desired, since the interlock device is mounted and supported in the casing grooves I16 without any auxiliary fastening device or fittings.

As hereinbefore indicated push button stations may be provided with a key look. This is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6, and as will presently appear, the cover 20 of the enclosure of the push button station does not require any modification on account of the provision of the key lock.

As here shown, the key lock comprises a looking frame I84 which includes the laterally spaced longitudinal bars I86 and I88, the end-connecting member I90 and the cross members I82, I94, I96 and I98. The locking frame is mounted for longitudinal movement adjacent the inner side of the front part 22 of the cover 20 by members 200 which as here shown are in the form of rings clamped against the inner side of the cover portion 22 by the bent-over edge portions 46 of certain of the guard rings, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Each of said frame mounting members 200 is provided at diametrically opposite points with a pair of oppositely offset

lugs

202, 204, at one side of

member

200 and 206, 208 at its opposite side. Said sets of

lugs

202, 204 and 206, 208 form guides for the side bars I86 and I88 of the locking frame and in the longitudinal movement thereof and also hold the locking frame against movement transversely of its own plane, as well as preventing lateral movement of said locking frame. The cross members are each removably secured at their opposite ends to the side bars I86 and I88 in any suitable way as by screws 2 I which are received in companion threaded openings provided in said bars. It will be noted that said bars are provided with sets of additional openings, identified by the small circles on said bars, defining addi- -tional positions at which the various cross looking members, such as members I92, I94, I96, I98, may be disposed for locking action. The locking members I92, I94, and I96 are each provided with an arcuate recess 2I2, and locking member I98 is provided with a similar arcuate recess 2I4 so that in the neutral position of the locking frame, illustrated in Fig. 2, the looking members are clear of the push buttons or other elements to allow free movement thereof when it is desired that they be unlocked, and also to permit the removal of the cover 20. 'In this connection it will be understood that when the locking member I84 is moved longitudinally, one or more of the cross locking members are disposed in the path of inward movement of the push buttons, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 with reference to the push button 40. Thus, it will be noted that when for example the locking frame is moved toward the end wall I6 locking members I94, I96 are moved to their locking positions under the inner ends of

push button

38 and 40 respectively and thereby prevent operation of said push buttons, while on the other hand if the locking frame is moved toward the opposite end of the cover or end wall I4 of the frame I2, the locking member I92 is positioned under the inner end of the push button 36 and prevents operation of the latter. It will be readily understood that provision may be made for locking one or more of the push buttons when the frame I84 is moved in one direction to one locking position, and that one or more of the push buttons may be locked when the locking frame is moved in the opposite direction to its other position. It will be observed that all of the cross locking members, including member I98, are reversible and may be positioned either like member I92 or like member I94. For example, when it is desired to lock button 36 by movement of the frame toward end wall I2 of the enclosure, cross member I92 is removed from the position shown in Fig. 2, and placed in a position in which it is secured in a pair of the above mentioned additional openings indicated at I93, the arcuate portion 2I2 of said cross member facing the end wall I6 of the enclosure. The cross locking member I98 is especially designed for locking the rotary selector switch in any of its three positions, when it is a 3-position switch as illustrated in Fig. 1, or in either of its two positions when it is a 2-position switch as illustrated in Fig. 18. For this purpose member I98 is provided with a projection 2I6 in the arcuate recess 2I4, for releasable engagement with the knob 42, or 42', as the case may be, said locking projection 2I6 being received in any one of the companion locking recesses or grooves I06 to H4 hereinbefore described. In this connection it will be observed that the locking grooves I06, I08 and III) are provided for use in conjunction with. looking projection 2I6 in the case of the 3-position selector switch and that grooves H2 and II 4 are provided for use in conjunction with the locking projection 2; when the selector switch is of the 2-position type. In this connection it will be understood that the provision of a full set of the five locking grooves on the rotary stem of the selector switch enable the same casing to be used either for selector switches of the 3-position type or for selector switches of the 2-position type.

The locking frame I84 is movable to its neutral or to either of its locking positions by a keyoperated mechanism. Thus as here shown a key lock 2I8 is mounted on the front of the cover 20 near one end of the latter, the casing 220 of said key lock being fastened in position by the nut 222 (Figs. 3 and 5). A stationary guide 224 is fixed to the inner end of casing 220 for a lock bolt 226 and actuator which is slidable in said guide and which is operated by the turning movement of the key-operated lock barrel 228. The latter has an eccentric projection or pin 230 which engages the member 226 in a groove slot 234 provided therein. When the lock barrel 228 is turned by the proper key in one direction, the locking frame is moved to a corresponding looking position and of course when the lock barrel is turned by the key in the opposite direction the locking frame is moved to its other locking position. It will be understood that in order to remove the key (not shown) from the lock 2I8 it is necessary to turn the barrel 228 to one of said two positions in which said frame has a locking action on one or more of the push buttons and/or on the selector switch, as predetermined by the positions of the cross locking members of the locking frame. It will be noted that the slidable locking member 226 which is operated by the eccentric pin 230 of the lock barrel is secured to the cross connecting member I90 of the locking frame. Also it will be noted that said locking member 226 provides a lock for the cover 20 in one of the positions of said locking frame, namely in the lower position of said locking frame viewing Fig. 1 or in the left hand position of said looking frame viewing Fig. 7. This is illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein the locking member is shown in a locking position overlapping the inner end of bracket 26 which, therefore, prevents the re "moval of cover 20 since the lock casing 220 is fixed to said cover and is not removable except by access thereto at the inner side of the cover.

Thus, it is seen that the construction, organization and arrangement of the several parts of the push button station are well adapted to the accomplishment of the several objects of the invention. It will be understood that a push button station may be provided with all of the auxiliary devices hereinbefore referred to or that all of such devices may not be required, or that only one or more of said devices may be provided in any one push button station. It is to be noted however that the construction and arrangement and the relation between the cover 20 of the enclosure of the push button station and the various switches and other elements and auxiliary devices are such as to enable the latter to be used interchangeably for push button stations for satisfying various specific requirements. It is believed to be obvious, however, that if a push button station requires only one or two switches or other elements, enclosures of appropriate size, shorter than that illustrated in Fig. 1 would ordinarily be provided. In actual practice the enclosures may be stocked in a range of from one to eight sizes with a corresponding variation in the number of openings provided in the covers respectively. However, the covers of different lengths do not vary in respect to the size of the openings therein, and accordingly allow the use of switches and other elements of the same construction and size inpush button stations of different sizes. Also, as hereinbefore described, the switches and other elements can be applied to push button stations which as described with reference to Figs. 18 and 19 have cast metal covers. Finally it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific push button stations and devices herein disclosed, and that certain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 42,718, filed August 5, 1948.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover and means at the inner side of said cover for supporting said looking frame for movement in opposite directions longitudinally of said row of openings, said looking frame having at least two spaced parts movable therewith, one of said latter parts being dis- Posed in h pa h of one of said manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switch when said locking frame is moved in one I of said directions, the other of said latter parts being disposed in the path of another of said manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switch when said locking frame is moved in the other of said directions.

2. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover and means atthe inner side of said cover for supporting said locking frame for movement in opposite directions longitudinally of said row of openings, said locking frame having at least two spaced parts movable therewith, one of said latter parts being disposed in the path of one of said manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switch when said locking frame is moved in one of said directions, the other of said latter parts being disposed in the path of another of said manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switch when said locking frame is moved in the other of said directions, said locking frame having a neutral position in which both of said spaced parts are disposed out of said paths, respectively.

3. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually depressible part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, guard rings for said manually depressible parts secured to said cover in said openings, respectively, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover and means supported by certain of said guard rings at the inner side of said cover for supporting said locking frame for movement longitudinally of said row of openings, said locking frame having a part movable therewith to a position in the path of one of said manually depressible parts to prevent operation of the companion switch.

4. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, guard rings for certain of said manually operable parts secured to said cover in said openings, respectively, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover andmeans supported by certain of said guard rings at the inner side of said cover for supporting said looking frame for movement longitudinally of said row of openings, said locking frame having a plurality of spaced parts movable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manually operable parts, respectively, to prevent operation of the companion switches, and a key-operated device for moving said locking frame to and from looking position, said device locking said cover on said first mentioned frame in said locking position of said locking frame.

5. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, guard rings for certain of said manually operable parts secured to said cover in said-openings, respectively, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover and means supported by certain of said guard rings at the inner side of said cover for supporting said locking frame for movement longitudinally of said row of openings, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced bars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openings and a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars and movable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manually operable parts, respectively, to prevent operation of the companion switches.

6. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a, row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the inner side thereof for movement toward and away from opposing cover portions, and a part removably mountable at spaced dispositions on said locking frame, said part when mounted at one of said spaced dispositions being disposed in the path of one of said manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switch when said locking frame is moved toward one of said opposing portions, said part when mounted at another of said spaced dispositions being disposed in the path of said one of said manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switch when said locking frame is moved toward the other of said opposing, portions. 7. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for'manual operation of the companion switch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the inner side thereof and having a part movable therewith to a position in the path of one of said manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switch, and a key-operated device for moving said locking frame to and from looking position, said device locking said cover on said first mentioned frame in said locking position of said locking frame.

8. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced open ings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the inner side thereof, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced bars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openings and a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars and movable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manually operable parts, respectively, to prevent operation of the companion switches.

9. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the inner side thereof, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced bars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openings and a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars and movable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manually operable parts, respectively, to prevent operation of the companion switches, and a key-operated device for moving said locking frame to and from looking position, said device locking said cover on said first mentioned frame in said locking position of said locking frame.

10. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, at least one of said parts being a rotary member, and others of said parts being depressible members, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover and means at the inner side of said cover for supporting said locking frame for movement longitudinally of said row of openings, said locking frame having at least a pair of spaced parts movable therewith, one of said spaced parts being movable to a position in the path of rotation of said rotary member to prevent operation of the companion switch, the other of said spaced parts being movable to a position in the path of one of said depressible members to prevent operation of the companion switch.

11. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, at least one of said parts being a rotary member, and others of said parts being depressible members, guard rings for said depressible members secured to said cover in said openings. respectively, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover and means supported by certain of said guard rings at the inner side of said cover for supporting said locking frame for movement longitudinally of said row of openings, said locking frame having at least a pair of spaced parts movable therewith, one of said spaced parts being movable to a position in the path of rotation of said rotary' member to prevent operation of the companion switch, the other of said spaced parts being movable to a position in the path of one of said depressible members to prevent operation of the companion switch.

12. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, a movable locking frame disposed at the inner side of said cover and means at the inner side of said cover for supporting said locking frame for movement in opposite directions longitudinally of said row of openings, said locking frame having a part movable therewith, said locking frame being adapted for removably mounting said part at spaced dispositions there on, said part when mounted at one of said spaced dispositions being disposed in the path of one of said manually operable parts to prevent operation of the companion switch when said locking frame is moved in one of said directions, said part when mounted at another of said spaced dispositions being disposed in the path of said carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the inner side thereof, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced bars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openings and a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars and movable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manually operable parts, respectively, to prevent operation of the companion switches, certain of said manually operable parts being push-buttons and certain of said transverse parts being provided with a recessed portion positioned under the inner ends of said push buttons when said transverse parts are moved into said paths.

14. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem' disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, a manually operable part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, and a movable locking frame carried by said cover at the inner side thereof, said locking frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced bars disposed at opposite sides of the centers of said cover openings and a plurality of spaced transverse parts connected to said bars and movable therewith into the paths of a plurality of said manually operable parts, respectively. to prevent operation of the companion switches, at least one of said manually operable parts being a rotary selector member carried by a stem provided with a locking recess for each selecting position of said selector member, one of said spaced parts having a portion engageable in said locking recess to prevent operation of the switch companion to said rotary selector member.

RICHARD P. BALLOU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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