US2596893A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

y 13, 1952 'r. FlNlZlE 2,596,893

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct. 28, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STAT retrap-nee Tomun Finizie, Bridgeport, Conm, assignor to Edmond .l. Finizie, Bridgeport. Conn.

Application October 28, 1948, Serial No. 56,929

- Another object isto provide a simple and in expensive 'structure which-can be easily assem bled -and disassembled.

Anothervobjectis to provide a switch in which thehu'mber of screwsor like fastening elements in the assembly is reduced to a minimum; T

Another ob'ject'is to provide a switch in which the snap action is of increased effectiveness.

in the accompanying drawings: I 3

'Fig. '1 is a top plan view'of a switch embodying-the inventiomshowing the same in the off position; v a I.

Fig; 2 is a front elevation of the switch shown inFig.'1; "Fig. 3.is a section on line .3--3' of Figj l', on a Figfiiis'a section on line 44 of Fig 3, on a smallerscale; t t i Fig5 isa section online 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-45 of Fig. 3;"

' Fig. 7 is a. detail leaff I l igyiiis a section on line 8-801"! Fig. 7'; Fig.-8A is a detail on a larger scale of a portion elevation of the swinging of the leaf;

@Fig. 9 is-a long udmar section of '2. switch or modified form, showing it in the-onposition; Fig lois a view similarto'Fig. 9," showing-the oflfd position, a' portion of r the structure being shown in elevation and a portion of the 'actuating member beingbroken away Figi l'l' is a detail perspective viewof the leaf member employed'in this..'form; '1 i'lifigilziis a section '.on: line .I 2-.-l 2 .of Fig. 11;

ingit in the'positionzof Fig. 9, certain partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 13A is a sectionarview, paruy meievation,1. sho,wing a further modified form; and;

. ;Fig.11,4;is'a section on'line, -14 of Fig-13:

tion-block being cut. away; intermediate of its ends to provide operating spacefl'fon a leai-pivto electric switches, and

. 15 Claims (01. 200-967) otedatits lower end to the metallic part of 7 frame. and-adaptedtof swing in a vertical plane gr 13.is1a top plan view of theswitch; show- I,

lengthwise of the frametoward and away iromcontact. mem'bers fixedjn-the cut-away portion of the i n sulat i on gblockrg The upper part; of the metallic portionof theframeis cut away to provide an aperturein communication with the cutaway part of theblock. Located at the lower part-jofthe frame; is an-actuatingelement havingaswinging motion to actuate-the leaf through a coil lspring, ,the'upper end of the spring hav ing a hook hooking into anaperture in the leaf, and the lower end of the spring being suitably conneccedtothe t tin l m is, actuatinfgelement; in theformgunder discussion is formed as a plate ,suspendedby the leaf-actuating spring, the spring being under tension and the actuating ;element being held in position by knife-edge pivoting spacing members interposed between itand-the upper part of the metallic portionofthe frame. In this particular case, actuation 'of,t,he leaf-actuating element is effectedbyextending one of the last-named membersupwardly through the frame so that it is accessible gfor manualmanipulation. The fixed contactniembers located in the cut-away por tionoi the: insu a n. block, as ab v t on are carried by theinner ends of conductor strips extending lengthwise along thetop of the frame, and proyided; adjacent one'end of the frame with suitable terminals for leading-in wires.

In the drawings the frame as a, whole isindicated at the insulation blockportion being indicatedat 2| and the'metallicportion at- 22. Theswinging contact leaf is generally indicated at 23, the cut-away portion of the insulation block at,24,- the cut-{away portion of the metallic portion;22,of-the frame at 25, the helical leaf.- actuating spring at 26, the hooked upper end portion; ofthis spring at 21, .the lower actuating plate at 28,; and=;the knife-edge spacing membersat 29 .and 30,: respectively. The member 30 iswprovidedwith the upward extension 3 I x for manual manipulating purposes, .said'. extension operating ina cut-away portion 32 of the frame. One :0f the .fixed contacts cooperatingwith the swinging leaf isv indicated at 33,. the .same.;being attached to a conductor strip 34, and thesco'nductor. strip- 34 being equipped with at'erminal .screw 35. vTheother fixed contact136 is-similar,

and is provided. with a conductor strip '3'! and: a

terminalscrewflfl; j 1" v: The; cut-away: portion 24 extends transversely ;of the-insulation. block, intermediate of the; ends of; the latter, and in thisparticular casethe fixed within cut-away portions at the right-hand end:

of the block, and the turned-clown portions provided with threaded sockets to receive the screws and 38.

The metallic or conductive portion 22 of the.

frame is in the form of an inverted U, the connecting portion of which is uppermost andsecured to the insulation block by'means-such asth screws 39. a

The contact leaf 23 has a metallic body 40. This is a rectangular member extending along the cut-away portion 24': having at the lower middle part ahole or aperturellfi in which the hook 21 "of spring 26 is engaged. .At the upper middle part the metallic member 40 B has:

extended through it transversely a rivet 4 l whichholds in place a metallic contact. plate 42: adapted to engage-the fixed'contacts 33 and 36 The contact plate 42 is insulated fromcth'e rivet 4! by insulation-which includes in this instance strip- 43, a-washe'r: 44, and a strip 452 Strip 43 is between- 40 and 42,- Washer 44 surrounds the rivet 4i, and-strip 45 extends along that face of the swinging leaf which"-isrearwardlyv disposed with referenceto the contact plate 42; Contact plate 42 being insulated from the body of the contact leaf, is-adapted to act as-a bridge between the fixed contact members.

The-aperture 41 in thecontact leaf. i's'shown as a'small 'roundape'rtureu The hoolr= 0f the spring is 'formed on an arcand extends through this aperture, and, the spring being under tension, the 'hook'portion is strongly held against the lowermarginofthe' aperture 41 This lower margin has the special form:-shown more parmately equal to the external diameter of the spring coil, said body portion being received in a round hole 53 in plate 28. Immediately below the plate 28 the sleeve is enlarged to provide a flanged head 54 in which the rabbet 52 is formed, the flanged head engaging the lower surface of plate 28.

The spring 23 being under tension when the switch'is completely assembled, ,the swinging leaf 23" is strongly held in its pivot notches or recesses, and the actuating plate, through the action of the flanged sleeve 49, held in an upper position -in which it can be swung while in engagement with the spacing and pivoting elements -29 and 305- Both of these elements have lower knife- edge portions 29 and 30, respectively, en-

gagedy-innotches or recesses of the actuating tions'29" and 30", respectively, engaging notches ticularlyin Fig- 8A, the same-being beveled; as 7 indicated at 46; to provide a cross section inthe shape ofan invertedV, the apex ofwhichis indicated at 4-1, said apexprovidihg'a line contact with the hook'of; the spring-for a purpose-hereinafter mentioned The leaf 23 has a knife-edge mounting at its lower part, which'in this case-is provided byengagement of the leaf with-the frame 'member 22. Theleaf. is beveledat its lower edge -to pro-' vide a knife 'edge-making-conta-ct with-the body of member 22 atopposite'sides-of:the aperture 25; as indicated at 48.

The lower end of the spring 26 is mounted with respect to the actuating plate 2 B in the following manner: a r 5 Y The lower partof the helical coil of the spring '2fiiislextended into around sleeve 49, and. below the lowermost turn of the coil the spring -is formed to provide. an integral generally-"round hooksportion-M, which is removably connected to. the sleeve 49 by'means oft-a crosspin 5|. 1 The hook; 50 engages. the crosspin; 5 lfat the lower surface'of the-latter in a region intermediatethe ends of-the 'crosspin. The ends of the crosspin. are receivedindiametrically opposite portions of arabbet 52iprovided'in sleeve 49, this portion of the sleeve being below the actuating plate 428, and that portion of the sleeve engagingthe lowermost turn of the coil beingabove the actuating plate: In the form shown; the sleeve- 49 'hasa body portion .:or .-an internal diameter approxiin the member 22. Thesmanipulating extension 3 l;.pre.viouslyr mentioned, is formed on member intermediatenof ;th'e:two upper knife-edge pore tions which; are provided :onzsaid member;

lu -Fig. 23311195 switch isiiillustrated as being \in the off position, the swinging contact leafxbee ing tipped somewhat irtouthe left: of a vertical transverse plane passing-through itsjlower edge. To close, the; switchntheiextension ,3 I, is grasped and swung to the.left;;as;indicated by the dotted lines:: Thiscausestheactuating member 28 to beimoveda to; theright, carrying;with it the lower part of the spring and causingzthaupperqend of the spring to, pull, the: upper .part: of; the-Ileaf ,to the right -so:;t-hat.,.;it.- comes. against and is :held against-rthez; fixed; contacts: 33 and, 36, g This, position; willjthen beheld until there 15 a; reverse movement of:th'eextensicurr.- 3 a In the Off:'IJQSiti0n;;-of,:;Fig; 3 the lower; extremityzofg ;the spring and the contact line 41, previously-mentioned, are, located; to the left of the pivot point of the leaf, thereby holding the leaf,,firmly in the off? position; In movingithe spring from the full-line position of Fig; 3 ,to the dottedgline position, the lower extremity; of the spring and its upper contact line bearingagainst theucontact line 41 of the leaf are-.brought-jto the right of the pivot point of the leaf,- and;wh en this occurs the, leafsnapsquickly:v tonthe; .fOn positionqr 1 It. is noted that in ;moving the lower partpof the spring and sleeve 49, moving With the actuat-v ing membergcngages the body of, the spring; in other ;;words,-; a portion; of its jcoil; thev region; of such engagement being, therefore, intermediate of the; ends of thefspringand this engagement, therefore; {causing a: positive movement 20f ,athe springgdnqathis region; This has a -,very beneficial effect in: bringing. about axrapid'and effective snapping action of the leatbetweenits twov positions. It is also;to.-be noted that the line of en: gagement-betweenfthe springandrthe swinging leaf is quite close:to;:the;. pivot1point of theleaf, there being ;a sharp line of engagement, asabove -descr.-ibe'd: *The distancerf'rom' the lower edge of the leaf to .its :mctallic; upper edge is preferably short in comparison to the length of .theJspring, *asillustrateddn the'drawings.

Inithe modifieda form shown in Figs.-9 -to"l3, inclusive, the manual manipulation'is somewhat --different from that described aboveyinasmuch asthelower swinging member is actuated directly, being grasped by the fingers and i moved inon or: the other direction. -In' this particular :form' the actuating platefconnected F to the spring -is' c'ombined with an: elongated member of insuagape-pee:

Iating material adapted to-be-grasped by the fingers.

In this second form the upperinsulatiorrblock hasthe cut-away portion 5'6? in which the swinging leaf-51 operates tobridge two= fixed contacts 5% and 59, respectively, located within the: cut-away portion. These contacts" 58-and 59'-are connected tocond-uctor' strips fill and' B t, which this instance are set edgewise the block, as: shown in'Fig. 1 3-. Attheir outer ends these conductor s-tri'ps extend out-ofthe block at the sides of an=- extension 6 2 the block, and in these regions the. conductorstrips are equipped: withthread'ed sockets for terminal screws: screwing into the extension- 612 The contacts 58: and 59 are pieces ofmetal suitably attached to the respective conductor" strips and located at-oppo site sides. ot' aseparatmg' fin 63 of.insulating. material provided-in con-nectionwiththeiinsnlating block;

The swinging leat'il is generally similar. tdthat previously described, but. difierentt in. some. features. It comprises ametal membergfil engaging. spring 65a. in the manner previously described, and pivoted in the manner. previously described; Riveted to thisametaimember is-a. small platefiE. of insulating. material; Mounted upon the part 65. is: a. metallic. bridge member 6.8; inthe form ofatplate having. a. rocking mounting; intermediate: of. its: ends, so. that-it can tilt in. a. horizontal plane: with reference: toiEig. 9 and canaadapt/itself to the: lie-: of the contact members which. it bridges. In the: particular case shown the memberfifihas intermediateof itsends asmall integralproiection bearing against the. opposed face Stand. GB-have portions-disposed. above the. upper edge. of member 64. It. will. also be noted. that theupper edge portion of the swinging leaf is provided. with a notch 68' whereby the adjacent end of the rivet member 61 is exposed, and this endlof the rivet member may, when the switch is opened, come against the inner end of'a stop screw 69 threaded. in the insulatingi'block and adapted to beheld in the" adj usted" position. by a clamping nut it: The. particular function of screw 69" will be mentioned hereinafter.

In this form the knife-edge spacing: plates are shown at Tl, the samebeing engaged, as-before,

with the U-shaped' metal frame member; which is here indicated at T2; At their lower edges these plates engage the plate 13, which correspends to the plate 28', previously described. In this case; however, the plate 1 3" has integral therewith the member inwhich the-lower end of the spring fifi is engaged andsecured, said memberbeing indicated at M. Member W provides a round, upwardly directed wall portion integral With-plate 7-3,which is rabbeted interiorly t'o-receive the lowermost turn or the spring; The plate 13 is fastened by screws 1 5 to anelongated block-like member 16 of ins1z1-la-tir-ig material. 'I-hi'smem-ber and the plate- 1 3 have meeting faces, portions of which provide an annular recess in which is located the pin 1! which engages the lower hook portion 18 of the spring. There is also provided, as shown in- Fig. 9, around recess hr block It in which the lower hook portion of: the'spring is. disposed. In assembling; the.- partsthe lower: end of the spring and: the pin 11' areplaced' position with respect to the plate 13; and the insulating block isthen placed: in position. to-enclose the pin, and the-screwsare inserted for attaching the insulation block to the metal-plate.

In this form the longitudinal movement of the composite actuating member 13, is controlled; by an adjustable stopmember carried by the frame 72 adapted to engage one of the spacer. members-H, this case the right-hand member (Fig. 9). I-Iere-astop screw I'S iscarried: by the leg or. the metal frame, andis locked in longii tudinall y adjusted position by nuts and- 81,

and thescrewhas an inner extremity adapted to be engaged-by the adjacentspacer plate. By adjusting this screw, the length of; the movement or strokeof the actuating. member may-be adjusted. In this case the screw limits movement of the actuating-1 member toward the rig-ht (Fig. 9')", whereas the adjustable screw 69; previously mentioned, limits swinging movement of the contact member toward theleit.

In the switch shownin- Figs. 9 and 10, the switchis adjustable to be self-closing. In opening thesw-i-tch the samewill not bemoved tothe position shown'i-rr Fig. 10, as the screw 69-will not permit su-fficient movement of the swinging contact leaf tobringthe leaf to a position whereit will remain disengaged. However, by adjusting the screw 69 it is possible to have the'leaf moved tethetu-lly opened position, where itwill remain open as-in Fig. 10.

In this form, clearance is provided between the frame-I2- and the plate 13 by notching the lower extremities of the depending portions of. the frame. In the form first described the depending portions or legs of the frame act as stops for the actuating plate.

The third form of the device, shown in. Figs. 13A and 14', is one in which the switch can be biased: to one position and movable to the other position by the action of a thermostatic element such as a thermostatic bellows. More specifically; the. switch is normally closed, but is adapted tobe. opened by the thermostat when a predetermined high temperature is reached. In general, thisform is similar to those. previously described, the same comprising an insulation block 82, a metal frame 83, a swinging leaf 8.4, a coil spring 85.; and an actuating plate 86 provided with con.- nections. to the spring. which are similar to those inthe form. first described. The swinging leaf cooperates. with contact members 8'1, 88, which in. this. instance are. carriedlby conductiv arms secured. to and extending laterally outwardly from block 82 in the manner shown in Figs.r13A and. 14.. Associated with the attached ends of the conductive arms are terminal screws, as shown, to which the electric wires are adapted to be. fastened. The switch is adapted to-be fastoned" in a suitable location by means of an attaching plate 89. This attaching, plate is secured to. the insulation block 82 by integral arms. 90, which extend atright. anglesto the body of the plate. The. thermostatic element is illustrated as a. bellows 9| fastened. to a fixed part by a member 92: atone end of' the bellows, the other bellows end, which is the movable end, being connected to a member 93 in the nature of a slide, which is attached to one end of a lever 9 The switch is arranged so that the actuating plate Eli is adapted tohave a vertical movement, and the lever 84 hasan end 95* extending under a lip 96 on frame 83. The lever 94 bears intermediate of its ends against the upper edge of the plate 86, and when the bellows is expanded to a certain degree by the heat of the surroundin atmosphere, the bellows causes downward movement of plate 86, which is effective to throw the switch to the off position and hold it off until a certain amount of cooling has taken place.

In this case the swinging leaf has a metallic part, as in the two forms previously described, and this part is riveted to a part 91 of insulating material extended out of the insulation block so as to be in proximity to the cooperating contact members. The part 91, in turn, carries a metallic bridge member 98 which is similar to that of the second form, having a similar tiltable mounting. The swinging contact can be held by a screw 99 against opening movement past the dead center.

It will be seen that in the particular forms herein described the switch comprises a composite device having interconnected elements, one of which is an insulating block having a cutaway portion for a swinging leaf, the other element being a frame element to which the leaf is pivoted by a knife-edge arrangement, the block being equipped with terminals having contacts adapted for bridging, the leaf having a member for bridging the contacts. The metallic frame member serves as a mounting for an actuating member swingingly mounted with reference to the frame member by spacing knife-edge element interposed between the frame member and the actuating member, there being a helical spring for imparting a snap action to the switch, which spring is located between the aforesaid spacing elements and is hooked into the swinging leaf at one end of the spring and into the actuating member at the opposite end of the spring. The spring, as so connected into the switch structure, holds the principal parts in the assembled relation, thus eliminating various parts in the nature of screws, bolts and the like, which have been used heretofore. Moreover, th principal parts of the switch can be of reduced size and greater compactness, and, more important, the snap action which is imparted to the switch in its operation is extremely rapid, and more effective than previous structures in eliminating arcing and pitting.

While the actuating member is a swinging member, it at all times maintains it general parallelism to the frame, owing to the provision of the spacing members or leaves at opposite sides of the spring. As the spacing leaves, as well as the contact leaf, swing on knife edges, movement of the switch ca be effected with a minimum of friction.

The knife-edge pivoting arrangement herein described eliminates the need of long travel hitherto required in connection with a toggle member, and permits making or breaking of a contact on a movement as small as %4th of an inch. Moreover, the switch may be set to keep the circuit normally open or normally closed, which is a feature not obtainable with toggles. This is accomplished with knife-edge pivots serving as bearings, which, for all practical purposes, are frictionless, eliminating the necessity of lubrication, eliminating high-pressure resistance at dead center, and insuring long life.

While some modifications are shown herein, various other modifications may be made, and other changes adopted within the broad prin- 8 ciples of the invention and the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A manually operable electric switch comprising an insulation block and a metal frame applied to the block at one face of the latter, the intermediate portion of the block being cut away to provide operating space for a contact leaf, and the block being provided with terminals and with contact members at one side of the cut-away portion, the frame being cut away substantially in line with the cut-away portion of the block, a metal leaf in said cut-away portion of the block carrying a contact strip insulated from the leaf for bridging said contact members and having knife-edge pivoting engagement with said frame, a coil spring connected to said leaf adjacent its pivot, an elongated actuating member to which said spring is connected at the opposite end thereof intermediate of the ends of the actuating member, and meansv spacing and pivotally mounting said actuating member from said frame so thatv it has a swinging movement.

2. A manually operable electric switch comprising an insulation block and a metal frame applied to the block at one face of the latter, the intermediate portion of the block being cut away to provide operating space for a contact leaf, and the block being provided with terminals and with contact members at one side of the cutaway portion, the frame being cut away substantially in line with the cut-away portion of the block, a metal leaf in said cut-away portion of the block carrying a contact strip insulated from the leaf for bridging said contact members and having knife-edge pivoting engagement with said frame, a coil spring connected to said leaf adjacent its pivot, an elongated actuating member to which said spring is connected at the opposite end thereof intermediate of the ends of the actuating member, and knife-edge leaf elements interposed between the actuating member and the frame, said actuating member having a swinging movement.

3. A manually operable electric switch comprising an insulation block and a metal frame applied to the block at one face of the latter, the intermediate portion of the block being cut away to provide operating space for a contact leaf, and. the block being provided with terminals and with contact members at one side of the cutawayv portion, the frame being cut away substantially in line with the cut-away portion of the block, a metal leaf in said cut-away portion of the block carrying a contact strip insulated from the leaf for bridging said contact members and having knife-edge pivoting engagement with said frame, a coil spring connected to said leaf adjacent its pivot, an elongated actuating member to which said spring is connected at the opposite end thereof intermediate of the ends of the actuating member, and means pivoting said actuating member from said frame so that it has a swinging movement, said spring by being connected to the contact leaf and actuating member maintaining the actuating member in the assembled position, the contact leaf having a snap action imparted to it through the swinging movement of the actuating member, and the actuating member having means of connection between it and the bodyof the coil serving to shift the coil laterally.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of a frame member having a plate portion cut away intermediate; of. its.. ends. to provide, an opening, a contact-leafyhaving. kniferedge? engagement with said. plate, portion adjacent said opening, saidleaf: having. an aperture adjacent its-pivot, a eoilspring. having. at one end hooking; engagement with the apertured portion of 3 said; leaf. at one side of said plate portion and: extending: to the other side of' said-plate portion. parallel knife-edge elements at the. last-named. side of the: plate portion; engagingthewpla-te portion, an actuatingmember spacedfrom? said: plate portion by, said elements and movable parallel to said plate portion, and means of connection between said: actuating member and the: other end; of said-spring.

5'. Ingani electric switch, the=-combination of: a framemember having. a: plate; portion cut. away intermediate ofpitsends to provide an opening, a contact leaf having kniferedge engagement with said: plateportion. adjacent said. opening; said leaf having an aperture adj'acenttits pivot,.,ar coil spring having at one. end hooking engagement with the apertured-.portionof;said leaf atone-side of? said plate-portion and extending to theother side: ofsaid plate portion, knife-edger. elements at the last-named? side of the plate portion engaging the plate portion at respective points": in the length of said portion, anactuating member spaced from said plate portion bysaid elements, and 'means of connectionbet'ween said actuating member'and the other end of saidspringinclud ing a sleeve-'member in whichsaid spring isen:- gaged.

6; In an electric switch, the combination of a frame memberhaving a plateportion cut away intermediateof its ends to provideanopening, a contact leaf having knife-edge engagement with said plateportion adjacent said opening, said-leaf having an aperture adjacent its pivot, a coilspring having-at one-end hooking engagement with the apertured portion of said leaf at oneside of said plate portion andextending to the other side of said plate portion, knife-edge elements at the last-named side ofthe plate portion engaging the plate'portion, an actuating member. spaced from said plate portion by said elements; and means of connection betweensaid actuating. member and the other end" of said spring including a sleeve member in which said spring is engaged, said. actuatingmember being maintained in its assembled relationship to the switch structure by its connection to said spring, and said connection being adetachableconnection.

7.;In an electric switch, the combination of a framemember having a plate portioncut away intermediate of its ends to provide anopening, a..contac't leaf having knife-edge pivot..-engagement with. said plate portion adjacent saidlopening, said leaf having anaperture adjacent its pivot, a coil spring having at one end" hooking engagement with the apertured portion of said leaf at one side of said plate portion and extending to the other side of said plate portion, an actuating member at the last-named side of said plate portion to which the other end of said spring is hooked, and pivoting knife-edge spacing elements between said actuating member and said plate portion at opposite sides of the spring held in position by the connection of the spring to said leaf and said actuating member, said spacing elements mounting said actuating member so that it has a swinging movement but in its movement remains generally parallel to said 1 plate portion.

8. In amelectrieswitch, thecombinationof a frame member having aiplateportion. cut away intermediate of its ends toprovide an opening, acontact. leaf; having knife-edge. pivot. engagement-withsaid plate portion. adjacent said, opening, said leaf having an aperturev adjacent its pivot, atcoil spring having, at, one. end. hooking engagement with-the apertured portion of said leaf at onesiderof saidrplate portionandextendr ing to the: other side of said plate portion, an actuati-ngmemberat the last-namedside of said plate portion .to which the other-endofsaid spring is hooked, andzpivoting knife-edge spacing elementsbetweensaid, actuating member and said plate; portion 1 at:v opposite sides ofthe spring held in position by the" connection ofthe spring to said leaf: andsaid-actuating member, said spacing elements mounting said actuating member sothatvit; has a: swinging movement but in its movementremains-generally parallel to said plate portion-,.. the: apertured portion of said contact leaf: having. a margin, which is 'V-shaped in cross section and: has; its: apex in: contact with the hooked portioniofthe; spring.

9 ;.A n electric. switch for quick-break. and quick-make of-cu-rrent, comprising two members one of which. engages; the: other: by; interposed V-shaped' pivot spacers; for parallel longitudinal movement of one member; whilegthea other. memher is stationary,. a. fly-leaf? contactor' having; a V-shaped" pivot: engaged with: the; stationary member, and: a spring: connected: to. the fly-leaf contactor: and". to. the movable. member providing: axsnap': action. of"; the contactor: by longitudinal motionofi the movablemember, said'spring holding all of saidparts in theassembledpositiOn;

10. An. electric switch for quick-break and quick-make of current, comprising two members one of" which? engages. the other by interposed v -shaped pivoti'. spacers for parallel. longitudinal movement-of one member. while; the other member-i's: stationary; a fly-leaf; contactor havinga \r-shaped pivotengaged with the stationary member, and a spring connected. at one end to the fly-leaf'contactor' and at the other end; to said movablemember providing. a. snap action of the contactorby longitudinal motion. of said movable member, said spring having a body in the form of a coil which is engaged with. said movable member;

11'. An electric-switch comprising anelongated insulation block provided with interconnected terminals and contact members; the block having-a portionthereof-cut away adjacent the-contact members to provide operating space for: a cofitactleaf for bridging said contact members, a frame=applied to one faceof the block and having-acut-away portion substantially in line with the cut-awayportion of the'block, a bridging contact. leaf in saidcut-away? portion of the block having knife-edge pivoting engagement with said frame on the face of the frame applied to the block, a coil spring connected at one end to the contact leaf adjacent its pivot point and extending through the cut-away portion of the frame, an elongated actuating member connected to the other end of the spring intermediate of the ends of the actuating member and having a portion engaging the body of the spring, pivoting knife-edge spacing elements interposed between said actuating member and said frame for pivotally mounting the actuating member so that if will swing in, an are generally lengthwise of said block, and-manual manipulating means for the switch comprising an extension on 'one of said spacing elements extending through inline apertures in said frame and in said block.

12. A manually operable electric switch comprising an elongated insulation block provided with interconnected terminals and contact members, the block having a portion thereof cut away adjacent the contact members to provide operating space for a contact leaf for bridging said contact members, a frame applied to one face of the block and having outstanding legs, said frame having a cut-away portion substantially in line with the cut-away portion of said block, a bridging contact. leaf in the cutaway portion of the block having knife-edge pivoting engagement with the frame on the face of the frame applied to the block, a coil spring connected at one end to the contact leaf adjacent itspivot point and extending through the cutaway portion of the frame, an elongated actuating member connected to the other end of the spring intermediate the ends of the actuating member and having a portion engaging the body of the spring, pivoting knife-edge spacing elements interposed between said actuating member and said frame for pivotally mounting said actuating member so that it will swing in an arc generally lengthwise of said block, adjustable stop means carried by one of said frame legs for inhibiting the pivotal movement of the actuating member through the engagement of the stop means with one of said pivoting spacing members, and adjustable stop means for the contact leaf carried by said block for inhibiting the swing of the contact leaf and permitting the 1 contact leaf to be biased toward the contact members thereby permitting a self throw in this direction through the action of said spring.

13. A manually operable electric switch comprising an elongated insulation block provided with interconnected terminals and outstanding contact members on one face thereof, the block having an opening in it at one side of the contact members, a frame applied to the opposite face of the block and having a cut-away portion substantially in line with the opening in the block, a bridging contact leaf extending into the opening of the block for bridging the contact members and having knife-edge pivoting engagement with the frame on its face applied to the block, a spring having one of its ends connected to the contact leaf adjacent its pivot and having its other end extending through the cutaway portion of the frame, an elongated actuating member connected to the other end of the spring intermediate of the ends of the actuating member, and pivoted spacer elements interposed between the frame and the actuating member for pivotally mounting the latter so that it will swing in an are generally lengthwise of the block.

14. An electric switch for quick-break and quick-make of current comprising two elongated substantially parallel members one of which is movable while the other is stationary, said stationary member having an interconnected contact and terminal and having a cut away portion, a fly leaf contactor cooperating with said contact and having a V-shaped pivot engaged with the stationary member and having an aperture adjacent said pivot, said aperture in the contactor having the lower margin thereof beveled to provide a cross section in the shape of an inverted V and the apex providing a line contact fora hooked end of a coil spring, and a tensioned coil spring having one end formed in the shape of a hook engaging said line contact of the contactor, said spring extending through said cut away portion of the stationary member and having its other end fastened to the movable member, said movable member having a portion thereof engaging the bodyeof said spring to move the spring laterally when the last-mentioned member is moved longitudinally thereby imparting a snap action to said fly leaf contactor.

15. An electric switch for quick-break and quick-make of current comprising two elongated substantially parallel members, means for pivoting one member to the other for swinging movement of one member while the other is stationary, said stationary member having an interconnected contact and terminal and having a cut away portion, a fly leaf contactor cooperating with said contact and having a V-shaped pivot engaged with the stationarymember and having an aperture adjacent said pivot, said aperture inthe contactor having the lower margin thereof beveled to provide a cross section in the shape of an inverted V and the apex providing a line contact for a hooked end of a coil spring, and a tensioned coil spring having one end formed in the shape of a hook engaging said line contact of the contactor, said spring extending through said cut away portion of the stationary member and having its other end fastened to the swingable member, said swingable member having a portion thereof engaging the body of said spring to move the spring laterally when the last-mentioned member is swung longitudinally thereby imparting a snap action to said fly leaf contactor.

I TOMUN FINIZIE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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