US2647969A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Electric switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US2647969A
US2647969A US165403A US16540350A US2647969A US 2647969 A US2647969 A US 2647969A US 165403 A US165403 A US 165403A US 16540350 A US16540350 A US 16540350A US 2647969 A US2647969 A US 2647969A
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United States
Prior art keywords
arm
contact
switch
spring
movable contact
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Expired - Lifetime
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US165403A
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English (en)
Inventor
Marcoz Jean Alphonse Eugene
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Individual
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Individual
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/22—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release
    • H01H73/30—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide

Definitions

  • Known automatic switches or circuit-breakers are comparatively complicated units of equipment, including a large number of component parts such as levers, pivots, sliders, pawls, springs, and so on, detracting from the ruggedness and eiciency of the resulting unit and increasing its cost.
  • the chief reason for this intricacy is the necessity of preventing the possibility of retaining the contact elements in closed condition so long as an overload condition persists.
  • This invention provides a switch which is free of these shortcomings.
  • I provide a switch which comprises a pair of contacts including a Xed and a movable contact, a first meansy biassing said movable contact away from said fixed Contact, and a second means biassing said movable contact into engagement with said xed contact with a force greater than that developed by said first biassing means, and means responsive to the magnitude of the load current adapted, in the case of an overload, to suspend the co-operation between said second biassing means and said movable contact.
  • the second biassing means which may be described as an interlock member, is subject to the action of a push-button or the like operable from without and adapted to recondition the switch or similar unit for operation.
  • the said responsive means adapted to suspend the operative coaction between the movable contact and the second biassing means is preferably provided in the form of a U-shaped bi-metal strip which may be mounted in series with the movable contact.
  • the operative connection between the movable Contact and the interlock member is suspended as soon as an overload condition occurs.
  • the movable contact is then urged by the rst biassing means in a contact-breaking direction.
  • the interlock member is actuated in the opposite direction by the biassing force to which it is subjected and thus serves at the same time as an indicating means adapted to warn the operator that the unit is in released or disengaged condition.
  • Each pole may include one or any greater number of circuit breaks in series. It may be made to disengage under thermal, electromagnetic, or any other desired inuence.
  • the device may be connected with the related conductors through terminals, as in the circuitbreakers in conventional meter-panels.
  • the connection may also be eiected by the use of plugs or jacks, as in the case of safety-plugs or fuses, for which a switch according to the invention may be substituted.
  • a switch or circuit-breaker according to the invention can easily be accommodated within the base oi a wall-plug for example, or in a iiexible plug-connection, cr it may be made to perform the function of an intermediate safety element interposed between a male and a female member of a plug-connection. It can further be incorporated in a fixed switch or in a movable switch of the type interposed along a exible conductor.
  • a further advantageous application of the improved circuit-breaker or switch unit may consist of providing it with auxiliary contacts adapted to be automatically opened or closed on operation of the unit, which may accordingly be utilised as a relay.
  • the switch unit may have associated with it an operating button whereby the circuit may be broken when desired.
  • Fig. 1 shows one. embodiment of my improved switch device in engaged or cocked condition
  • Fig. 2 shows the same device after it has been released
  • Fig. 3 relates to a modification
  • Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views
  • Fig. 6 relates to another modification
  • Figs. l and 8 relate to a construction including an interchangeable bi-metal strip.
  • my improved switch device comprises a casing containing a xed contact I and a movable contact 2 supported on a spring-plate 3.
  • An actuating push-button 4 is supported on a spring-plate 5.
  • the springplates 3 and 5 are so mounted under pre-tension that they tend, when left to themselves, to assume the separated condition shown in Fig. 2, with the upper spring applied against the top and the lower spring against the bottom of the casing. They are, however, prevented from doing so in the cocked or engaged condition of the unit by the provision of a latching nose or shelf 5 projecting from a small spring plate shown as upstanding from plate 3.
  • the inherent resilient force of the upper spring plate 5 is greater than that of the lower spring plate 3.
  • the. spring 'I is arranged to .be moved aside by a means responsive to overload, not illustrated, which may consist of a bi-metal strip or any other suitablev known means.
  • a means responsive to overload not illustrated, which may consist of a bi-metal strip or any other suitablev known means.
  • the nose 6 then releases the lower spring plate 5, and the contact is broken.
  • the spring 'I may itself be provided in the form of a bi-metal strip or the like adapted to be heated either directly by current flowing through it or indirectly.
  • the push-button 4 springs out to a projecting position (Fig. 2.) thus indicating that the device has operated.
  • the spring-plate 3 snaps away to the opposite direction and opens the contact at I2.
  • the bi-metal strip IG which, as a result of its deformation, causes the device to operate and disengage the contacts, is supported on the spring-plate 3.
  • Said bi-metal strip is U- shaped, having unequal arms and has secured to the top of its longer arm the movable contact 2.
  • the dimensions on the bi-metal strip and the position of the contact 2 are such that. in the case of an overload, the resulting deformation tends to disengage the nose 6 from the cooperating shelr or hook l, as the result of a pivotal movement about the contact 2 as a centre.
  • the arms of the bi-metal strip close in towards each other and pull the nose 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow f1 (Fig. 5).
  • the shelf 'I is then urged back in the direction f2 and the contact 2 is urged in the direction i3 (Fig. 5) thereby breaking the circuit.
  • a circuit-breaking button I2 is further provided. By pressing on this button, with the device in its engaged condition, the lower end I3 of the push-button I2 acts upon an inclined element I4 rigid with the plate 5 and releases the shelf I, thus disengaging the device.
  • a set-screw l5 is provided to enable adjustment of the relative position between the shelf 'I and the cooperating nose S. Accordingly, it is very simple to adjust the device, as with a screwdriver inserted into the adjusting hole ID.
  • the unit may further be provided withl auxiliary contacts such as signalling or relay contacts.
  • auxiliary contacts such as signalling or relay contacts.
  • an insulated nose I? is provided in the position shown, and the nose IT is adapted, when the switch operates, to press down against an auxiliary spring-plate I8 arranged beneath it, provided with an auxiliary movable contact which may thus serve to make or break one or more auxiliary contacts.
  • auxiliary contacts may be so arranged as to be made or bronen as desired, on engagement or disengagement of the main contacts I-2.
  • the device is in the form of a safety plug or .fuse provided with connecting plugs 3 and S.
  • the push-button 4 is provided with a shelf or hook I and is slidable over a shank I9 extending up from the plug member 8; the button is urged to its projected condition by a coil spring 2i) or the like.
  • the xed contact I has a top .projection under which the Vmovable contact 2 engages.
  • the movable contact 2 is carried at the end of a spring-arm 5 and is normally urged downwards by the inherent resiliency of said arm.
  • a nose 6 rigid with it is adapted to .be raised by the shelf 'I projecting from the button 4 under the force o the spring 25, more powerful than that of the spring-arm 5, thereby maintaining the movable contact 2 applied against the xed contact I'.
  • the function of the second biassing means which in each of the first-described constructions was performed by a spring-arm 3, is here fulillled by the coil-spring 2L. rlhe U- shapedV bi-metal strip IB interposed on the spring arm III operates in a similar manner as in the construction of Figs. 3 to 5. Flow of current is from the plug terminal 8 through iixed contact I, movable contact 2, bi-metal strip I0, spring-plate 5 to terminal plug E.
  • Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate yet another form of construction, having a particular high breaking capacity and adapted to be equipped with an interchangeable Vthermal responsive element.
  • the unit comprises two identical pairs of contacts (Ia, 2c and Ib, 2b) in series.
  • the movable contacts 2a and 2b are interconnected by an insulating strip 2I which carries the shelf or hook 1, pivoted about an insulated pin 22 and retained in its vertical position by a small spring 30.
  • the fixed contacts la and Ib are carried on the insulated plate y23'. They are connected to the respective ends of a bi-rnetal strip 24 which is adapted to deform when subjected to an overload and in its thus deformed condition to press down on the end of the nose 25 rigid with the hook 1, and thus releases this hook which was maintained in its raised condition by the spring plate 5.
  • the contacts 2a and 2b are then urged back downwards down away from ic and lb while the button 4 springs upwards to its projected position.
  • the insulating part 23 is mounted for slight rotation about a pivot 26 secured to an insulating base-plate 2l.
  • a spring 28 tends to urge the part 23 away from the base 21 about its pivot 26.
  • a set-screw 23' provided with a head 29 constituting a calibrated dial, when rotated causes the part 23 to swing about the pivot 26 and thus to move the bi-metal strip 24 towards and away from the nose 25, thereby to adjust the operating point of the device.
  • a circuit-breaking button l2 is provided to break the contacts by pressing down on the end of the bi-metal strip 24,
  • the pivot 2S may be replaced by a simple knife-edge fulcrum.
  • the part 23 and the bi-metal strip can then be removed simply by unscrewing the set-screw 28.
  • the bimetal strip may be mounted in an auxiliary circuit to be controlled, which thus will be capable of controlling the operation of the device.
  • an automatic switch of the type comprising a casing containing a movable and a fixed contact in combination at least one xed con tact, a irst resiliently deformable arm, at least one contact on said arm constituting the movable contact of the switch, said arm being adapted to move said movable contact away from said contact, a second and more powerful resiliently deformable arm adapted to act on said, movable Contact in an opposite direction from said rst arm, co-operating means on both said arms inm terengageable to subject said first arm to the action of said more powerful second arm to engage said movable contact against said fixed contact, and a bi-metal strip inserted in series in the electric circuit controlled by said .switch and adapted by its distortion in case of a current overload to act on said co-operating means for separating them and for releasing thereby said first arm from the action of said second arm, and a pushbutton which is independent of said bi-metal strip, connected to said second arm
  • an automatic switch of the type comprising a casing containing a movable and a iixed contact in combination at least one xed contact, a rst resiliently deformable arm, at least one contact on said arm constituting the movable contact of the switch, said arm being adapted to move said movable contact away from said fixed contact, a second and more powerful resiliently deformable arm adapted to act on said movable contact in an opposite direction from said iirst arm, cooperating means on both said arms interengageable to subject said first arm to the ⁇ action of said more powerful second arm to engage said movable contact against said iixed contact, and a bi-metal strip inserted in series in the electric circuit controlled by said switch and adapted by its distortion in case of a current overload to act on said cooperating means for separating them and for releasing thereby said first arm from the action of said second arm, and a push-button which is independent of said bi-metal strip, connected to said second arm, realising the
  • a base mounted for restricted pivotal movement on said base, the said iixed contact and the bi-metallic strip being secured to said support, spring means biassing said movable support in one direction about its pivot and set-screw means adapted to force said support in the opposite direction thus to pre-set the operating point of said switch.
  • said cooperating means comprise a spring-urged arm pivoted on said first arm, a top shelf on said spring-urged arm releasably engaging said second arm, a part projecting from said springurged arm, said bi-metallic strip being adapted when deformed to press upon said projecting part to release said shelf from said second arm.

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US165403A 1949-07-06 1950-06-01 Electric switch Expired - Lifetime US2647969A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR994513T 1949-07-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2647969A true US2647969A (en) 1953-08-04

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US165403A Expired - Lifetime US2647969A (en) 1949-07-06 1950-06-01 Electric switch

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US2647969A (de)
BE (1) BE496579A (de)
FR (1) FR994513A (de)
GB (1) GB688649A (de)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2757257A (en) * 1953-06-01 1956-07-31 Vernhes Jean Michel Time-switches for electric circuits, and particularly for signalling circuits
US2824930A (en) * 1955-01-14 1958-02-25 Bulldog Electric Products Co Circuit breaker
US2824932A (en) * 1955-07-15 1958-02-25 Ellenberger & Poensgen Thermal overload circuit breaker
US2925481A (en) * 1954-10-07 1960-02-16 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US3234348A (en) * 1960-11-28 1966-02-08 Littelfuse Inc Circuit breaker with ambient temperature compensation
US3622932A (en) * 1970-07-16 1971-11-23 Ibm Self-restoring thermal switch with means for indicating previous overtemperature condition
US3742162A (en) * 1971-10-27 1973-06-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Self-contained door safety switch with manually disabled latch
US3913049A (en) * 1973-04-02 1975-10-14 Bk Patent Dev Thermostatic circuit breaker
US5193043A (en) * 1990-06-26 1993-03-09 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Phase sensitivity
US6542061B2 (en) * 2001-04-16 2003-04-01 Cathy D. Santa Cruz Indicator light for use in combination with an electrical circuit protector or fuse

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR794535A (fr) * 1934-09-03 1936-02-19 Cie Continentale Pour La Fabri Disjoncteur à maxima
GB486062A (en) * 1936-05-26 1938-05-30 Aeg Improvements in screw plug and like automatic electric switches
US2483645A (en) * 1948-01-02 1949-10-04 Kitman Julia Thermal circuit breaker
US2483646A (en) * 1948-01-02 1949-10-04 Kitman Julia Thermal circuit breaker

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR794535A (fr) * 1934-09-03 1936-02-19 Cie Continentale Pour La Fabri Disjoncteur à maxima
GB486062A (en) * 1936-05-26 1938-05-30 Aeg Improvements in screw plug and like automatic electric switches
US2483645A (en) * 1948-01-02 1949-10-04 Kitman Julia Thermal circuit breaker
US2483646A (en) * 1948-01-02 1949-10-04 Kitman Julia Thermal circuit breaker

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2757257A (en) * 1953-06-01 1956-07-31 Vernhes Jean Michel Time-switches for electric circuits, and particularly for signalling circuits
US2925481A (en) * 1954-10-07 1960-02-16 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2824930A (en) * 1955-01-14 1958-02-25 Bulldog Electric Products Co Circuit breaker
US2824932A (en) * 1955-07-15 1958-02-25 Ellenberger & Poensgen Thermal overload circuit breaker
US3234348A (en) * 1960-11-28 1966-02-08 Littelfuse Inc Circuit breaker with ambient temperature compensation
US3622932A (en) * 1970-07-16 1971-11-23 Ibm Self-restoring thermal switch with means for indicating previous overtemperature condition
US3742162A (en) * 1971-10-27 1973-06-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Self-contained door safety switch with manually disabled latch
US3913049A (en) * 1973-04-02 1975-10-14 Bk Patent Dev Thermostatic circuit breaker
US5193043A (en) * 1990-06-26 1993-03-09 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Phase sensitivity
US6542061B2 (en) * 2001-04-16 2003-04-01 Cathy D. Santa Cruz Indicator light for use in combination with an electrical circuit protector or fuse

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE496579A (de)
FR994513A (fr) 1951-11-19
GB688649A (en) 1953-03-11

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