US2778891A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Electric switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US2778891A
US2778891A US474417A US47441754A US2778891A US 2778891 A US2778891 A US 2778891A US 474417 A US474417 A US 474417A US 47441754 A US47441754 A US 47441754A US 2778891 A US2778891 A US 2778891A
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Prior art keywords
contactor
contact
driver
switch
housing
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US474417A
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Edward N Jacobi
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Briggs and Stratton Corp
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Briggs and Stratton Corp
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Priority to US474417A priority Critical patent/US2778891A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/16—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting by rolling; by wrapping; Roller or ball contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H27/00—Switches operated by a removable member, e.g. key, plug or plate; Switches operated by setting members according to a single predetermined combination out of several possible settings
    • H01H27/06—Key inserted and then turned to effect operation of the switch

Definitions

  • switches of this type are provided with.
  • a rotary contactor which flatwise overlies the front face of a terminal head and cooperates with stationary contacts thereon.
  • the contactor is rotated across said face of the terminal head by a manually rotatable actuator through a driver having splined driving connections with both the actuator and the contactor.
  • the actuator in most switches of this type comprises a key controller lock cylinder by which the switch may be locked in an off position.
  • the stationary contacts are grouped in such a manner on the terminal head that different combinations thereof are electrically bridged by the rotary contactor in different defined positions of rotation thereof.
  • detent means is usually provided to arrest motion of the actuator at the desired positions of rotation of the contactor, and such detent means is usually energized by a spring.
  • a single spring confined between the driver and the contactor may be used to not only energize the detent means and thus assure a pronounced snap action of the switch, but to also urge the contactor toward engagement under pressure with the stationary contacts.
  • T he operation of the switch of this invention is similar to that of the aforesaid patent in that its contactor is also rotatable from a defined off position to a defined first switch on position bridging battery, ignition and accessory contacts on the terminal head, and is further rotatable in the same direction to a defined second switch on position to complete the starter circuit of the automobile.
  • a torsion spring automatically returns the contactor to the first switch on or running position of the switch, as soon as the operator releases the actuator.
  • the contactor engages an accessory contact on the terminal head to make current available for the various accessories on an automobile, such as radio, heater and the like, and it is a desirable feature of the switch of this invention that the accessory circuit is broken upon rotation of the contactor from the running position to the start position thereof, before the starter circuit is completed. This relieves the battery of the automobile of loads as high as 50 amperes at times when the radio, heater motor and auxiliary lighting equipment are in operation, before the starting motor load is imposed upon the battery.
  • Another purpose of this invention is to provide an ignitionstart switch of the character described with unique detent means for arresting motion of the actuator at the desired positions of rotation of the contactor.
  • Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of an ignition-start switch of the character de scribed wherein friction of the moving parts is held to a minimum and can be substantially, entirely eliminated during operation of the switch.
  • a further purpose of this invention resides in the provision of an ignition-start switch of the character described wherein the contactor, in any defined position of rotation thereof, has engagement with the stationary contacts at three spaced localized areas circumjacent to the contactor axis (the contactor being pressed into engagement with the contacts by a spring bearing upon its central portion) to thus assure stability of the contactor and good distribution of contact pressure among the stationary contacts engaged thereby.
  • Another purpose of this invention resides in the provision of an ignition-start switch of the character described wherein the splined connection between the driver and the rotary contactor provides for a degree of universal swiveling motion of the contactor relative to the driver, and wherein the latter so cooperates with the stationary contacts during operation of the switch as to cause tilting of the contactorabout any of a plurality of pivot axes each of which is defined by two of the three localized areas of engagement between the contactor and the stationary contacts.
  • Still another object of this invention resides inthe provision of stationary contacts on the terminal head of the switch which cooperate with the rotary contactor in a unique manner to achieve a camming action by which the contactor is tilted out of engagement with the accessorycontact just before it is carried onto the starter contact to thereby assure disruption of the accessory circuits before the load of the starting motor is imposed on the battery of the automobile.
  • Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the ignition-start switch of this invention, showing the switch housing and terminal head in longitudinal section;
  • Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but viewing the switch mechanism from the top;
  • Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the plane of the line 3-3;
  • Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 3 along the plane of the line k-*4;
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of the switch showing the terminal head, and the assembled driver and rotary.
  • Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary contactor and the driver therefor;
  • Figure 7 is an elevational view looking into the rear of the switch housing with the terminal head, the rotary contactor and the driver removed from the housing;
  • Figure 8 is a developed fragmentary sectional view taken along the arc 8-h in Figure 7;
  • Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 10 is a developed sectional view similar to Figure 8 but illustrating details of construction of the modified mechanism disclosed in Figure 9;
  • Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the plane of the line ll lll and showing the relative positions of the rotary contactor and the stationary contacts with which it cooperates in the off posi tion of the switch;
  • Figures 12 through '15 are cross-sectional views similar to- Figure 11 but showing the contactor in different operative positions of the switch;
  • Figures 11a through a are fragmentary sectional views, respectively taken through Figures 11 through 15 along the plane of the lines i3la3illa through 1b'a15a;
  • Figure 1417 is a detail sectional view taken through Figure 14 along the line 14-b-l4b;
  • Figure 15b is a detail sectional view taken through Figure 15 along the line 15b-l5b.
  • the numeral 5 generally designates the housing of the ignition-start switch of this invention.
  • the housing is shown as a die casting having asmall diameter substantially tubular front end portion 6 and a larger diameter rear end portion 7.
  • terminal head 3 of insulative material is fixed in the rear of the housing to close the same and has a substantially fiat front face 9 inside the housing facing the front thereof and lying in a plane substantially normal to the housing axis.
  • Lock mechanism is mounted in the tubular front end portion 6 of the housing and comprises a sleeve or casing 11 fixed against axial and rotational movement with respect to the housing as by means of a pin 12 projecting from the sleeve into a hole in the Wall of the housing.
  • the lock mechanism includes a rotatable plug or cylinder 13 mounted in the sleeve 11 to rotate therein on the axis of the housing, and freed for such rotation upon insertion of a proper key 14 into the front of the cylinder.
  • the lock cylinder 13 and its key thus provide the actuator per so, although it will be understood that a non-locking type of rotatable actuator would suffice.
  • the lock cylinder 13, of course, is con-strained to rotate in its sleeve, being held against axial motion relative to the housing in the customary manner, by means not shown.-
  • the larger rear portion 7 of the housing accommodates the switch mechanism, which includes a rotary contactor 15,. and a driver ldby which the contactor is coupled to the actuator.
  • the 'contactor iii of the switch may be considered as interposed between the driver and the terminal head, and comprises a carrier disc 1''? of insulative material flatwise overlying the front face of the terminal head, and a bridging member 22 of electrically conductive sheet material flatwise fixed to the rear face of the disc 17 and cooperable with stationary contacts l8, 19, 2d and 21 on the front face of the terminal head.
  • the driver 16 by which the contactor 15 is coupled with the actuator for rotation therewith, is also a die casting, and it is supported conjointly by the terminal head and the switch housing for rotation on the axis thereof. It comprises a body .23, positioned intermediate the contactor and the switch actuator and having a splined connection with the latter, and a reduced hollow bifurcated stern portion 24- extending rearwardly from the body portion and having a splined connection with the conta'ctor.
  • the body of the driver has ia cylindrical portion at its front rotatably received in a relatively short bearing in the switch housing provided by a counterbore 25 at the junction of the small and large diameter end portions of the housing.
  • the rearwardly extending bifurcated stem 24 on the driver projects into a substantially shallow well 27 in the front of the terminal head, the well providing the rear bearing for the driver.
  • the splined driving connection between the actuator 13 and the driver comprises a short rearwardly extending non-circular axial lug 2% on the lock cylinder projecting into corres, cndingly shaped hole 3% in a small diameter forwardly projecting hub 31 on the driver.
  • the front extremity of the hub Ill abuts the rear of the lock sleeve 11 and prevents the cylindrical body portion 23 of the driver from rubbing against the bottom of the counterbore 25 in which it is rotatably supported so that the driver has limited surface to surface contact with the thrust bearing provided by the rear end of the lock sleeve. This arrangement minimises the frictional forces which act upon the driver during operation of the switch.
  • the rotary contactor 15 seats on the stern 2d of the driver, and the stem bifurcations pass loosely through diametrically opposite substantially arcuate apertures 34 in the insulating disc or carrier 17 to provide the splined driving connection between the driver and the contactor and at the same time permit the contactor a limited degree of universal swiveling motion for a purpose to be discussed later.
  • the bridging member 22 on the rear of the insulative carrier is similarly provided with diametrically opposite apertures 34, which apertures are considerably larger than those in the insulative disc so as to assure adequate electrical clearance between the driver and the bridging member.
  • the bridging member 22 is stamped from a flat sheet of electrically conductive material. It is in the form of a disc having a diameter slightly less than that, of the carrier-l7, and it lies fiatvvise against the rear face of the carrier, being secured thereto by a series of circumferentially spaced tangs 36, 37 and 33 on the periphery of the bridging member bent rearwardly therefrom through notches in the periphery of the carrier and clinched over the front face of the latter.
  • the notch 39 which receives the tang 36 is arcuately enlarged and has a substantially radial edge 4b which is bevelled or chamfercd toward the rear face of the carrier for a purpose to be disclosed shortly.
  • the bridging member has a full diameter rim portion extending substantially continuously for slightly less than two-thirds the circumference of the bridging memher, and the peripheral portion of the remainder thereof is cut back or notched, as at 42, with one end of the notch terminating adjacent to the tang 38.
  • the notch 42 extends past the notch 39 in the carrier, and its other end is located a slight distance beyond the chamfered edge 44) thereof.
  • the large diameter portion of the bridging member has two arcuately shaped apertures 43 and 44 therein spaced from one another and equispaced from the axis of the contactor, the aperture 43 having a substantially short arcuate length and the other having substantially greater arcuate length. At the space between their adjacent ends, the apertures 43 and 44 define a small electrically conductive surface 45, and the smaller diameter portion of the bridging member opposite thereto provides a much larger contact surface 46.
  • the bridging member is provided with tangs I 4'7 at the junctures between the contact surfaces 45-46 and. the apertures 43-4-4, bent forwardly from the bridging member through holes 4 3 in the insulative carrier, the tangs engaging an edge of each hole, as seen best in Figure 5, to lend stability to the connection between the bridging member and carrier.
  • the electrically conductive surfaces 45 and 46 thereon lie along a circle passing through the apertures 4344 and are thus circumferentially interrupted by these apertures.
  • the stationary contacts 18, 19 and 2%) are also arranged along a circle of the same diameter and, consequently, rotation of the contactor will carry its conductive surfaces into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts 1% ⁇ , 19 and 20 on the terminal head.
  • the stationary contacts 18, 19 and 20 may be said to ride oif the electrically conductive surfaces 45 and 46 of the bridging member during operation of the switch, and since these stationary contacts are in the nature of frustoconical buttons, the small diameter outer ends of these buttons may project through the apertures 43-44 in the bridging member in certain positions of the contactor, to engage the rear face of the insulating carrier at areas thereof exposed by the apertures.
  • the electrically conductive surfaces 45 and 46 wherever interrupted by the apertures 43 and 44 are sloped forwardly as indicated at 56 to merge smoothly into the plane of the rear face of the insulative carrier 17.
  • the sloping end portion of the larger contact surface 46 of the bridging member adjacent to the larger aperture is extended to provide a fiat contact surface 51 flush with the rear face of the carrier.
  • the rim portion 41 of the bridging member adjacent to the contact surface 51 also serves as an arcuate contact surface on the bridging member, and it will be noted that its end which lies adjacent to the chamfered edge 40 of the notch 39 in the insulative carrier is spaced a slight arcuate distance from this edge for a purpose to be disclosed hereinafter.
  • Each of the stationary contacts exposed at the inner face of the terminal head is connected to the inner end of a terminal which projects rearwardly from the head and has the usual means thereon to enable the terminals to be connected with the various electrical circuits of an automobile.
  • These terminals are located at substantially equal distances from one another and from the axis of the housing and as brought out hereinbefore, three of the terminals have the frustoconical contact buttons 18, 19 and 20 on their forward ends.
  • the contact buttons 18, and 242 are identical, but for clarity of illustration, the button 1?. has been shown slightly smaller in diameter in the sequence of views comprising Figures 11 through 15 and their associated sectional view comprising Figures lla through 15a.
  • the fourth stationary contact 21 is formed on a plate 55 flatwise overlying the front face of the terminal head and riveted in place thereon by the front end portion of its terminal, as at 56.
  • This plate extends outwardly toward the stationary contact and its contact 21 is bent therefrom to project forwardly from the terminal head at an angle of 90 to its front face.
  • the contact 21 is located at a point close to the stationary contact 2t and near the periphery of the terminal head.
  • the stationary contact 21 projects forwardly from the front face of the terminal head a slightly greater distance than the contact buttons 18, 19 and 29, and its opposite side edges are bevelled or chamfered as at 57 to coact with the chamfered edge 40 of the notch 39 in the periphery of the insulative contact carrier 17.
  • the terminal for the contact 18 is connectible with the battery of an automobile and contact 18 is, therefore, a supply contact.
  • the terminal for the contact 19 is connectible with the ignition coil of the automobile, while the contact 2% is adapted to have its terminal connected with the accessory circuits to make current available for these circuits whenever the supply and accessory contacts are bridged.
  • the stationary contact 21, of course, is
  • the switch With the positions of the parts shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 11, the switch is in the off position.
  • the small ends of the supply and ignition contacts 18 and 19, respectively, project through the apertures in the bridging member and engage the rear face of the insulative carrier 17, while the larger contact surface 46 of the bridging member is engaged with the accessory contact 20.
  • two of the stationary contacts 18 and 19 engage non-conductive surfaces on the plane of the rear face of the carrier, while the third contact 20 engages the conductive surface 46 which is on another plane displaced rearwardly from the first a distance corresponding to the thickness of the bridging member. Consequently, the contactor may be said to be tilted about an axis T defined by its engage ment with the supply and ignition contacts 18 and 19, respectively, and all of the circuits of the automobile are inoperative.
  • the switch Upon rotation of the contactor in a counter-clockwise direction from the ofi position seen in Figure 11 through an arc of substantially 35, the switch is brought to the position seen in Figure 12, where only the accessories circuits are operative.
  • the smaller conducting surface on the bridging member engages the supply contact 18, while the accessory contact 2th is engaged by the larger conducting surface 46 on the contactor.
  • the ignition contact 19 remains engaged with the rear face of the insulative carrier in this position of the switch, it being noted that the aperture 44 has an arcuate length sufiicient to accommodate counterclockwise motion of the contactor to the Figure 12 position without bringing any portion of the bridging member into engagement with the ignition contact.
  • the contactor is tilted about a pivot axis T defined by the engagement of its bridging member with the supply and accessories contacts.
  • Figure 13 illustrates the relative positions of the contactor and the stationary contacts bridged thereby when the contactor has been rotated approximately 35 in a clockwise direction from its off position seen in Figure 11. This may be termed the first on or running position of the switch, since the smaller contact surface 45 of the bridging member is in engagement with the ignition contact 1?, and its larger contact surface 46 is in bridging engagement with the supply and accessory contacts 18 and 20, respectively.
  • the detent roller 73 is freely rotatably mounted on the outer end portion of a 83 preferably of circular cross-section so that it may be provided by a length of stiff wire.
  • the other end portion of the lever is bent to provide a hook 84.
  • This lever is loosely received in an elongated recess 85 in the driver extending transversely across its axis and opening to the rear thereof. That portion of the recess which receives the hoolt inner end portion of the lever is located medially between the radial arms 63 and 64 of the driver, and the remaining portion of the recess which receives the rollercd end portion of the lever is formed in the radial arm 62 of the driver.
  • the recess is of substantially cruciform shape at the outer end portion of the arm 62, the cross branch 36 thereof opening forwardly through the pad 55 and freely rotatably receiving the detent roller 73 to keep it from axial displacement relative to the lever 83.
  • the detent roller 73 projects forwardly entirely through the cross branch of the recess for engagement with the notched surface of the cam track 74-.
  • the hooked end projects forwardly and is loosely fulcrumed on an abutment 87 on the driver formed at the bottom of the recess 85 therein.
  • the fulcrum S7 provides a pivotal support upon which the lever may rock about an axis crosswise to, but spaced from, the axis of the driver, the lever being guided for such forward and rearward rocking motion of its rollered end by the walls of the recess 35.
  • the contact spring 59 which presses upon the front face of the contactor at the central portion thereof, is disposed partly between the bifurcations of the stem portion of the driver, but the major portion of this spring projects into an axial bore 39 in the driver opening to the rear of the body portion thereof slightly eccentric to its axis in the direction of the rollered end of the lever 83.
  • the lever 33 extends transversely across the bore 8% so that the contact spring 59 bears against a medial portion of the lever 83 and is thus confined between the latter and the rotary contactor.
  • the forward reaction force of the spring is divided by the lever 33 into a force which presses the detent roller 73 into firm engagement with the cam track 74, and another force which presses the small diameter hub 31 on the front of the driver into engagement with the rear end of the lock sleeve 11, through the engagement of the bent end portion of the lever with its fulcrum 87.
  • the driver may be lifted out of rubbing engagement entirely from the rear of the lock sleeve and all of the forward reaction force of the contact spring utilized to energize the detent means to further reduce friction tending to resist rotation of the driver, and to achieve a more pronounced detent action at the different defined positions of the switch.
  • This may be accom plished, as shown in the modification illustrated in Figure 9, by providing a stop abutment 90 on the driver immediately behind the outer end portion of the lever 83, outwardly of the roller 73 thereon. This stop is engaged by the lever as soon as rotation of the driver causes the roller "13 to be forced rearwardly out of any of the detent notches in the cam track.
  • the cam track is formed in the bottom of the counteroore which provides the bearing for the cylindrical body portion of the driver. it extends along an are which crosses a portion 91 at the rear of the lock sleeve, and in the running position of the switch the detent roller 73 directly engages the rear end of the sleeve, as seen in Figures 9 and 10, so that the force of the contact spring is imposed upon the lock mechanism to prevent the same from rattling on the switch housing. in all other positions of the detent roller on the cam track there is no need for guarding against rattling of the lock mechanism for the automobile will not be in operation.
  • this invention provides an improved ignition start switch having the following features: a minimum number of parts; simplicity of construction; improved performance by reason of the fact that friction opposing free rotation of the driver is held to a minimum; a rotary contactor which may swivel on its connection with the driver so that the force of a single contact spring acting upon the rotary contactor is equally divided among a combination of three stationary contact buttons on the terminal head circumjacent to the contactor axis in any defined position of the switch; utilization of part of the forward reaction force of the contact spring, or all of it, to energize detent means of novel construction to arrest rotation of the driver at the different defined positions of rotation of the contactor; and utilization of the stationary starter contact to cam the contactor away from the accessory contact and render the accessories circuits inoperative before the bridging member is brought into engagement with the starter con tact.
  • a terminal head having a pair of spaced apart stationary contacts on one side there of and having terminals for connecting said contacts in an electrical circuit; a contactor overlying said side of the terminal head and comprising an insulative carrier having an electrically conductive bridging member thereon cooperable with the stationary contacts; means on the switch mounting the contactor for tilting motion toward and from said side of the terminal head and for back and forth sliding motion substantially parallel to said side of the terminal head, so that sliding motion of the contactor in one direction carries the bridging member into engagement with both of said stationary contacts, and sliding motion of the contactor in the opposite direction causes an end portion on the bridging member to slide off one of the stationary contacts to effect disruption of an electrical circuit controlled thereby; yieldable biasing means acting upon the contactor in a direction to urge the same toward the contact side of the terminal head to tnereby assure pressure engagement between the bridging member and the stationary contacts; movable actuating means on the switch; means drivingly connecting the contactor with said actuating means
  • a terminal head having stationary supply, ignition and accessory con tacts on one side thereof substantially equispaced from one another; a manually operable contactor comprising an insulative carrier having an electrically conductive surface thereon cooperable with said contacts; means mounting the contactor on the switch for back and forth sliding movement substantially parallel to said side of the terminal head and for tilting motion toward and from said side of the terminal head, said contactor being slidable in one direction from an off position to a first switch on position wherein its electrically conductive surface bridges said supply, ignition and accessory contacts, and being slidable further in the same direction to a second switch on position wherein its electrically conductive surface bridges said ignition and supply contacts, and during which further movement said electrically conductive surface on the contactor rides off the accessory contact, said contactor being tiltable upon said ignition and supply contacts to carry its electrically conductive surface out of engagement with the accessory contact; biasing means acting upon the contactor to yieldingly urge the same into
  • a terminal head having stationary supply, ignition and accessory contacts on one side thereof substantially equispaced from one another; a manually operable contactor including an insulative carrier, and means on said carrier defining an electrically conductive surface cooperable with said contacts; means mounting said contactor on the switch for back and forth sliding movement substantially parallel to said side of the terminal head and for tilting motion to ward and from said side of the terminal head, said con tactor being slidable in one direction from an off position to a first switch on position wherein its electrically conductive surface bridges said supply, ignition and accessory contacts, and being siidablc further in the same direction to a second switch on position wherein its electrically conductive surface bridges said ignition and supply contacts but is disengaged from the accessory contact, said contactor being tiltable on said ignition and supply contacts away from engagement with the accessory contact; biasing means acting upon the contactor to yieldingly urge the same toward engagement with said contacts; a stationary starter contact on said side
  • a terminal head having spaced supply, ignition, start and accessory contact buttons stationarilj/ mounted on one side thereof,
  • a movable contactor overlying said side of the terminal head and including an insulative carrier having bridging means thereon shaped for selective engagement with said stationary contact buttons in different positions of the contactor; means on the switch mounting the contactor for rotation in opposite directions about an axis substantially normal to said side of the terminal head and located substantially centrally between the stationary contacts thereon, and for tilting motion of the contactor out of its axis of rotation, said contactor being rotatable in one direction from an off position at which its bridging means is disengaged from the supply contact to a first switch on position at which its bridging means engages said supply, ignition and accessory contacts, and being rotatable further in said direction to a second switch on position at which its bridging means engages said supply, ignition, and start contacts and during which further rotation said bridging means slides out of engagement with the accessory contact button, said contactor being tiltable upon said
  • a housing a terminal head fixed on the housing at the rear thereof; a number of stationary contacts on the front of the terminal head; a manually operable actuator; means mounting the actu atcr on the front portion of the housing for rotation on an axis which intersects the terminal head; a rotatable contactor in the housing between the actuator and the terminal head and cooperable with the contacts on the latter; a driver connected with the actuator to rotate therewith and having a splined driving connection with the contactor so that rotation of the actuator is imparted to the contactor; means on the housing defining a cam track having a rearwardly facing notched detent surface adjacent to the driver and concentric to the axis thereof; a lever mounted on the driver to rotate bodily therewith and for pivotal motion relative thereto about an axis spaced to one side of and substantially normal to the driver axis, said lever extending across the driver axis and having its free end portion disposed at the opposite side thereof and lying behind said notched surface of the cam track;
  • a housing in an electrical switch: a housing; a terminal head fixed on the housing at the rear thereof; a number of stationary contacts on the front of the terminal head; a manually operable actuator mounted on the front portion of the housing and constrained to rotation on an axis which intersects the terminal head, said actuator having a rearwardly facing surface providing a thrust bearing normal to the axis of actuator rotation; a contactor in the housing between the actuator and the terminal head and rotatable between a plurality of positions engaging ditferent combinations of stationary contacts; a driver coupled with the actuator to rotate therewith and having a splined driving connection with the contactor to transmit rotation thereto from the actuator, said driver having a reduced hub projecting forwardly therefrom into engagement with the thrust bearing provided by the rear of the actuator; means on the housing defining a detent track having a rearwardly facing notched detent surface adjacent to the driver and concentric to the axis of rotation thereof; a lever mounted on the driver to rotate bodily therewith and for pivotal motion relative thereto about
  • the electrical switch set forth in claim 6 further characterized by the provision of a stop on the driver positioned to be engaged by a part on the rollered end portion of the lever whenever the latter is rocked rearwardly on its pivot axis as a consequence of the roller thereon 14 being cammed out of a notch in the detent track, whereby the entire driver is moved rearwardly in the switch housing to disengage the hub on the front of the driver from the thrust bearing provided by the rear of the actuator and thus reduce friction resisting free rotation of the driver.
  • an ignition switch of the character described: a housing; a terminal head fixed on the housing at the rear thereof and having a number of stationary contacts on its front; manually operable actuating means mounted on the front of the housing and comprising a rotatable member constrained to rotate on an axis which intersects the terminal head; a contactor in the housing overlying and cooperable with the stationary contacts on the terminal head, said contactor being rotatable in one direction from an off position to an ignition on position; a driver connected with said rotatable member to rotate therewith and having a spli'ned driving connection with the contactor to transmit rotation from the rotatable member thereto; detent means for defining said off and ignition on positions of rotation of the contactor, comprising a lever carried by the driver for bodily rotation therewith and for pivotal motion relative thereto about an axis spaced to one side of and substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the driver, said lever extending across the driver axis and having a roller journalled on its free end portion
  • a housing manually operable actuating means mounted on the front portion of the housing and comprising'a rotatable member constrained to rotate on fixed axis; a terminal head fixed on the housing a distance axially rearwardly from the rotatable member, said terminal head having stationary contacts on a forwardly facing portion thereof; .a driver in the housing coupled to the rotatable member to rotate therewith, said driver having a cylindrical body portion adjacent to the rear of the rotatable member, and having a reduced hollow rearwardly projecting bifurcated stern; means on the front portion of the housing defining a bearing to rotatably receive a substantially short axis length of the cylindrical body portion of the driver; the terminal head having a well opening to its front and defining a pilot bearing coaxial with the bearing on the front portion of the housing, and into which a substantially short axial portion at the rear of said stem projects to rotatably support the driver from a point spaced rearwardly of said bearing on the front portion
  • earnest detent means for arresting rotation of the contactor at a plurality of dififerent positions of rotation thereof at which the contactor cooperates with difierent combinations of stationary contacts, said detent means comprising a cam track on the switch housing having a rearwardly facing notched surface adjacent to the cylindrical body portion of the driver, a lever carried by the driver for bodily rotation therewith and for pivotal motion relative thereto about an axis spaced to one side of and substantially normal to the driver axis, said lever extending across said bore in the driver and across the driver axis to have its free end portion rearwardly overlying said cam track on the housing, and a roller journalled on the free end portion of the lever and tracking upon said cam track; and a spring received partly in said bore of the driver and partly in the space between the stem, bifurcations, said spring being confined under compression be tween the contactor and an intermediate portion of the lever to supply contact pressure for the contactor and to also energize the detent means by urging the roller into the notches in
  • a housing in a'switch of the character described: a housing; a terminal. head on the rear of the housing having its front facing the inside of the housing; an actuator mounted on the front portion of the housing for rotation on an axis substantially normal to the front of the terminal head; a contactor in the housing between.
  • the actuator and terminal head comprising an insulative carrier, and a bridging member fixed to the rear of the carrier and facing the front ct the terminal head; means providing a rotation transmitting connection between the actuator and said contactor which affords the contactor a limited degree of tilting motion relative to its axis of rotation; stationary contacts on the front of the terminal head spaced from one another and from the contactor axis, and selectively engageable by the bridging member on the contactor in diifcrent positions of rotation thereof, two of said stationary contacts being adjacent to one another but projecting different distances forwardly from the front of the terminal head and located difierent distances from the axis of contactor rotation, said bridging member being shaped to have engagement with the shorter of said two stationary contacts in one position of rotation of the contactor and to have engagement with the longer of said two stationary contacts in another position of rotation of the contactor at which the longer contact holds the contactor tilted with its bridging member disengaged from the shorter contact; said carrier and the bridging member having registering
  • the switch set forth in claim 10 further characterized by the fact that the bridging member has a second recess therein to receive the shorter contact in said second designated position of rotation of the contactor; and wherein said cam means on the carrier is so located radially relative to said second recess as to effect tilting of the contactor away from the shorter contact concomitantly with the entrance of the shorter contact into said second recess during rotation of the contactor from said first to said second predetermined positions thereof.

Landscapes

  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)

Description

Jan. 22, 1957 E. N. JACOB] 2,778,891
ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed D sc. 10, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 1 M :MW
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ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 10, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Fix/7.77M 1. 30017! Jan. 22, 1957 5. N. JACOB! ELECTRIC SWITCH 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 10, 1954 Jan. 22, 1957 E. N. JACOBI 2,778,391
ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 10, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 4 J, t... M
Jan. 22, 1957 E. N. JACOBI 2,773,891
ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 10, 1954' e Sheejs-Sheet 5 7 IIIIA'Q' P -I ezelaaaage Edward JV? JZwbz INSULATION Jan. 22, 1957 E. N. JACOB! 2,778,891
ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 10, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Edward AKA :04?!
United States ELECTRIC swrrcrr Edward N. Jacobi, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Application December 10, 1954, Serial No. 474,417
11 Claims. (Cl. 200-11) This invention relates to electric switches and refers more particularly to improvements in automobile ignitionstart switches like that disclosed in Patent No. 2,650,958, issued to Edward N. Jacobi on September 1, 1953.
In general, switches of this type are provided with. a rotary contactor which flatwise overlies the front face of a terminal head and cooperates with stationary contacts thereon. The contactor is rotated across said face of the terminal head by a manually rotatable actuator through a driver having splined driving connections with both the actuator and the contactor. While not essential, the actuator in most switches of this type comprises a key controller lock cylinder by which the switch may be locked in an off position.
Inasmuch as switches of this nature are adapted to control a number of electrical circuits such as the ignition, accessory and starter circuits of an automobile, the stationary contacts are grouped in such a manner on the terminal head that different combinations thereof are electrically bridged by the rotary contactor in different defined positions of rotation thereof. Hence, detent means is usually provided to arrest motion of the actuator at the desired positions of rotation of the contactor, and such detent means is usually energized by a spring. In fact, a single spring confined between the driver and the contactor may be used to not only energize the detent means and thus assure a pronounced snap action of the switch, but to also urge the contactor toward engagement under pressure with the stationary contacts.
T he operation of the switch of this invention is similar to that of the aforesaid patent in that its contactor is also rotatable from a defined off position to a defined first switch on position bridging battery, ignition and accessory contacts on the terminal head, and is further rotatable in the same direction to a defined second switch on position to complete the starter circuit of the automobile. After the engine has started, a torsion spring automatically returns the contactor to the first switch on or running position of the switch, as soon as the operator releases the actuator.
in the running position of the switch, the contactor engages an accessory contact on the terminal head to make current available for the various accessories on an automobile, such as radio, heater and the like, and it is a desirable feature of the switch of this invention that the accessory circuit is broken upon rotation of the contactor from the running position to the start position thereof, before the starter circuit is completed. This relieves the battery of the automobile of loads as high as 50 amperes at times when the radio, heater motor and auxiliary lighting equipment are in operation, before the starting motor load is imposed upon the battery.
In addition to the foregoing, it is a purpose of this invention to provide an ignition-start switch of the character described featuring a generally simplified construction through the use of fewer and more rugged parts, and to improve the performance of the switch.
Another purpose of this invention is to provide an ignitionstart switch of the character described with unique detent means for arresting motion of the actuator at the desired positions of rotation of the contactor. In this connection, it is a further object of this invention to provide an ignition-start switch of the character described in which means on the driver receives the reaction force of the contact spring and transmits a part of this reaction force to the detent rneans to energize the same, and carries the remainder of said force onto the actuator to prevent rattling thereof on the switch housing.
Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of an ignition-start switch of the character de scribed wherein friction of the moving parts is held to a minimum and can be substantially, entirely eliminated during operation of the switch.
A further purpose of this invention resides in the provision of an ignition-start switch of the character described wherein the contactor, in any defined position of rotation thereof, has engagement with the stationary contacts at three spaced localized areas circumjacent to the contactor axis (the contactor being pressed into engagement with the contacts by a spring bearing upon its central portion) to thus assure stability of the contactor and good distribution of contact pressure among the stationary contacts engaged thereby.
Another purpose of this invention resides in the provision of an ignition-start switch of the character described wherein the splined connection between the driver and the rotary contactor provides for a degree of universal swiveling motion of the contactor relative to the driver, and wherein the latter so cooperates with the stationary contacts during operation of the switch as to cause tilting of the contactorabout any of a plurality of pivot axes each of which is defined by two of the three localized areas of engagement between the contactor and the stationary contacts.
Still another object of this invention resides inthe provision of stationary contacts on the terminal head of the switch which cooperate with the rotary contactor in a unique manner to achieve a camming action by which the contactor is tilted out of engagement with the accessorycontact just before it is carried onto the starter contact to thereby assure disruption of the accessory circuits before the load of the starting motor is imposed on the battery of the automobile.
With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiments of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.
The accompanying drawings illustrate two complete examples of the physical embodiments of the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the ignition-start switch of this invention, showing the switch housing and terminal head in longitudinal section;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but viewing the switch mechanism from the top;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the plane of the line 3-3;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 3 along the plane of the line k-*4;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the switch showing the terminal head, and the assembled driver and rotary.
contactor removed from the switch housing;
Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary contactor and the driver therefor;
Figure 7 is an elevational view looking into the rear of the switch housing with the terminal head, the rotary contactor and the driver removed from the housing;
Figure 8 is a developed fragmentary sectional view taken along the arc 8-h in Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is a developed sectional view similar to Figure 8 but illustrating details of construction of the modified mechanism disclosed in Figure 9;
Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the plane of the line ll lll and showing the relative positions of the rotary contactor and the stationary contacts with which it cooperates in the off posi tion of the switch;
Figures 12 through '15 are cross-sectional views similar to- Figure 11 but showing the contactor in different operative positions of the switch;
Figures 11a through a are fragmentary sectional views, respectively taken through Figures 11 through 15 along the plane of the lines i3la3illa through 1b'a15a;
Figure 1417 is a detail sectional view taken through Figure 14 along the line 14-b-l4b; and
Figure 15b is a detail sectional view taken through Figure 15 along the line 15b-l5b.
Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 generally designates the housing of the ignition-start switch of this invention. The housing is shown as a die casting having asmall diameter substantially tubular front end portion 6 and a larger diameter rear end portion 7. terminal head 3 of insulative material is fixed in the rear of the housing to close the same and has a substantially fiat front face 9 inside the housing facing the front thereof and lying in a plane substantially normal to the housing axis.
Lock mechanism, generally designated lid, is mounted in the tubular front end portion 6 of the housing and comprises a sleeve or casing 11 fixed against axial and rotational movement with respect to the housing as by means of a pin 12 projecting from the sleeve into a hole in the Wall of the housing. The lock mechanism includes a rotatable plug or cylinder 13 mounted in the sleeve 11 to rotate therein on the axis of the housing, and freed for such rotation upon insertion of a proper key 14 into the front of the cylinder. The lock cylinder 13 and its key thus provide the actuator per so, although it will be understood that a non-locking type of rotatable actuator would suffice. The lock cylinder 13, of course, is con-strained to rotate in its sleeve, being held against axial motion relative to the housing in the customary manner, by means not shown.-
The larger rear portion 7 of the housing accommodates the switch mechanism, which includes a rotary contactor 15,. and a driver ldby which the contactor is coupled to the actuator. The 'contactor iii of the switch may be considered as interposed between the driver and the terminal head, and comprises a carrier disc 1''? of insulative material flatwise overlying the front face of the terminal head, and a bridging member 22 of electrically conductive sheet material flatwise fixed to the rear face of the disc 17 and cooperable with stationary contacts l8, 19, 2d and 21 on the front face of the terminal head.
The driver 16 by which the contactor 15 is coupled with the actuator for rotation therewith, is also a die casting, and it is supported conjointly by the terminal head and the switch housing for rotation on the axis thereof. It comprises a body .23, positioned intermediate the contactor and the switch actuator and having a splined connection with the latter, and a reduced hollow bifurcated stern portion 24- extending rearwardly from the body portion and having a splined connection with the conta'ctor.
As shown best in Figure 2, the body of the driver has ia cylindrical portion at its front rotatably received in a relatively short bearing in the switch housing provided by a counterbore 25 at the junction of the small and large diameter end portions of the housing. The rearwardly extending bifurcated stem 24 on the driver projects into a substantially shallow well 27 in the front of the terminal head, the well providing the rear bearing for the driver.
The splined driving connection between the actuator 13 and the driver comprises a short rearwardly extending non-circular axial lug 2% on the lock cylinder projecting into corres, cndingly shaped hole 3% in a small diameter forwardly projecting hub 31 on the driver. As shown best in Figure 2, the front extremity of the hub Ill abuts the rear of the lock sleeve 11 and prevents the cylindrical body portion 23 of the driver from rubbing against the bottom of the counterbore 25 in which it is rotatably supported so that the driver has limited surface to surface contact with the thrust bearing provided by the rear end of the lock sleeve. This arrangement minimises the frictional forces which act upon the driver during operation of the switch.
The rotary contactor 15 seats on the stern 2d of the driver, and the stem bifurcations pass loosely through diametrically opposite substantially arcuate apertures 34 in the insulating disc or carrier 17 to provide the splined driving connection between the driver and the contactor and at the same time permit the contactor a limited degree of universal swiveling motion for a purpose to be discussed later. It will be understood, of course, that the bridging member 22 on the rear of the insulative carrier is similarly provided with diametrically opposite apertures 34, which apertures are considerably larger than those in the insulative disc so as to assure adequate electrical clearance between the driver and the bridging member.
As stated, the bridging member 22 is stamped from a flat sheet of electrically conductive material. it is in the form of a disc having a diameter slightly less than that, of the carrier-l7, and it lies fiatvvise against the rear face of the carrier, being secured thereto by a series of circumferentially spaced tangs 36, 37 and 33 on the periphery of the bridging member bent rearwardly therefrom through notches in the periphery of the carrier and clinched over the front face of the latter. The notch 39 which receives the tang 36 is arcuately enlarged and has a substantially radial edge 4b which is bevelled or chamfercd toward the rear face of the carrier for a purpose to be disclosed shortly.
The bridging member has a full diameter rim portion extending substantially continuously for slightly less than two-thirds the circumference of the bridging memher, and the peripheral portion of the remainder thereof is cut back or notched, as at 42, with one end of the notch terminating adjacent to the tang 38. The notch 42 extends past the notch 39 in the carrier, and its other end is located a slight distance beyond the chamfered edge 44) thereof.
The large diameter portion of the bridging member has two arcuately shaped apertures 43 and 44 therein spaced from one another and equispaced from the axis of the contactor, the aperture 43 having a substantially short arcuate length and the other having substantially greater arcuate length. At the space between their adjacent ends, the apertures 43 and 44 define a small electrically conductive surface 45, and the smaller diameter portion of the bridging member opposite thereto provides a much larger contact surface 46.
In addition, the bridging member is provided with tangs I 4'7 at the junctures between the contact surfaces 45-46 and. the apertures 43-4-4, bent forwardly from the bridging member through holes 4 3 in the insulative carrier, the tangs engaging an edge of each hole, as seen best in Figure 5, to lend stability to the connection between the bridging member and carrier.
From the description of the bridging member thus far,
it will be apparent that the electrically conductive surfaces 45 and 46 thereon lie along a circle passing through the apertures 4344 and are thus circumferentially interrupted by these apertures. The stationary contacts 18, 19 and 2%) are also arranged along a circle of the same diameter and, consequently, rotation of the contactor will carry its conductive surfaces into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts 1%}, 19 and 20 on the terminal head.
The stationary contacts 18, 19 and 20 may be said to ride oif the electrically conductive surfaces 45 and 46 of the bridging member during operation of the switch, and since these stationary contacts are in the nature of frustoconical buttons, the small diameter outer ends of these buttons may project through the apertures 43-44 in the bridging member in certain positions of the contactor, to engage the rear face of the insulating carrier at areas thereof exposed by the apertures. In order to assure smooth operation of the switch, the electrically conductive surfaces 45 and 46 wherever interrupted by the apertures 43 and 44 are sloped forwardly as indicated at 56 to merge smoothly into the plane of the rear face of the insulative carrier 17. In addition to sloping smoothly into the plane of the rear face of the carrier, the sloping end portion of the larger contact surface 46 of the bridging member adjacent to the larger aperture is extended to provide a fiat contact surface 51 flush with the rear face of the carrier.
The rim portion 41 of the bridging member adjacent to the contact surface 51 also serves as an arcuate contact surface on the bridging member, and it will be noted that its end which lies adjacent to the chamfered edge 40 of the notch 39 in the insulative carrier is spaced a slight arcuate distance from this edge for a purpose to be disclosed hereinafter.
Each of the stationary contacts exposed at the inner face of the terminal head is connected to the inner end of a terminal which projects rearwardly from the head and has the usual means thereon to enable the terminals to be connected with the various electrical circuits of an automobile. These terminals are located at substantially equal distances from one another and from the axis of the housing and as brought out hereinbefore, three of the terminals have the frustoconical contact buttons 18, 19 and 20 on their forward ends. The contact buttons 18, and 242 are identical, but for clarity of illustration, the button 1?. has been shown slightly smaller in diameter in the sequence of views comprising Figures 11 through 15 and their associated sectional view comprising Figures lla through 15a.
The fourth stationary contact 21 is formed on a plate 55 flatwise overlying the front face of the terminal head and riveted in place thereon by the front end portion of its terminal, as at 56. This plate extends outwardly toward the stationary contact and its contact 21 is bent therefrom to project forwardly from the terminal head at an angle of 90 to its front face. Thus, the contact 21 is located at a point close to the stationary contact 2t and near the periphery of the terminal head.
As will appear more fully hereafter, the stationary contact 21 projects forwardly from the front face of the terminal head a slightly greater distance than the contact buttons 18, 19 and 29, and its opposite side edges are bevelled or chamfered as at 57 to coact with the chamfered edge 40 of the notch 39 in the periphery of the insulative contact carrier 17.
The terminal for the contact 18 is connectible with the battery of an automobile and contact 18 is, therefore, a supply contact. The terminal for the contact 19 is connectible with the ignition coil of the automobile, while the contact 2% is adapted to have its terminal connected with the accessory circuits to make current available for these circuits whenever the supply and accessory contacts are bridged. The stationary contact 21, of course, is
connectlble with the starter coil of the automobile by its terminal.
With the positions of the parts shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 11, the switch is in the off position. The small ends of the supply and ignition contacts 18 and 19, respectively, project through the apertures in the bridging member and engage the rear face of the insulative carrier 17, while the larger contact surface 46 of the bridging member is engaged with the accessory contact 20. Hence, in this position of rotation of the contactor, two of the stationary contacts 18 and 19 engage non-conductive surfaces on the plane of the rear face of the carrier, while the third contact 20 engages the conductive surface 46 which is on another plane displaced rearwardly from the first a distance corresponding to the thickness of the bridging member. Consequently, the contactor may be said to be tilted about an axis T defined by its engage ment with the supply and ignition contacts 18 and 19, respectively, and all of the circuits of the automobile are inoperative.
Upon rotation of the contactor in a counter-clockwise direction from the ofi position seen in Figure 11 through an arc of substantially 35, the switch is brought to the position seen in Figure 12, where only the accessories circuits are operative. In this position of the contactor, the smaller conducting surface on the bridging member engages the supply contact 18, while the accessory contact 2th is engaged by the larger conducting surface 46 on the contactor. The ignition contact 19 remains engaged with the rear face of the insulative carrier in this position of the switch, it being noted that the aperture 44 has an arcuate length sufiicient to accommodate counterclockwise motion of the contactor to the Figure 12 position without bringing any portion of the bridging member into engagement with the ignition contact. Also in this position of the switch, the contactor is tilted about a pivot axis T defined by the engagement of its bridging member with the supply and accessories contacts.
Figure 13 illustrates the relative positions of the contactor and the stationary contacts bridged thereby when the contactor has been rotated approximately 35 in a clockwise direction from its off position seen in Figure 11. This may be termed the first on or running position of the switch, since the smaller contact surface 45 of the bridging member is in engagement with the ignition contact 1?, and its larger contact surface 46 is in bridging engagement with the supply and accessory contacts 18 and 20, respectively. During clockwise rotation of the contactor to carry the same from its off to its running position seen in Figure 12, the two stationary contacts 18 and 19 in effect ride smoothly up the sloping ramps 50 at the ends of the apertures in the bridging member and onto the fiat rear face of the bridging member, while the accessory contact in effect rides down its adjacent ramp 5'0 onto the flat contact surface 51 which, it will be recalled, is disposed flush with the rear face of the insulative carrier 17. Hence, that portion of the contactor overlying the accessory contact 20 and. the start contact 21 is tilted rearwardly toward the terminal head about a pivot axis T defined by the engagement of the bridging member with the stationary supply and ignition contacts. This tilting of the contactor, of course, is possible by reason of the alignment of the notch 39 with the start contact 21. In the running position of the switch, therefore, the start contact 21 projects forwardly into the notch 39 in the insulative carrier. In none of the positions of the switch thus far described does the start contact 21 engage either the bridging member or its insulative carrier.
Further clockwise rotation of the contactor from the Figure 13 position thereof through an arc of substantially 35 disposes the contactor in a second switch on position in which the supply, ignition and start contacts 18, 19 and 21, respectively, are engaged by the bridging member 22, and the accessory contact 20 projects through the larger aperture 44 into engagement with the rear face of on, or running position of the switch shown in Figure 13.
An important feature of the this invention resides in the fact that the forward force which the contact spring 59 imposes upon the driver is divided so that a substantial part of the forward reaction force of the spring is carried onto the detent means to energize the same, while the balance of this forward reaction force is transferred to the loci: mechanism to keep the same from rattling in the tubular front portion of the switch housing. For this purpose, the detent roller 73 is freely rotatably mounted on the outer end portion of a 83 preferably of circular cross-section so that it may be provided by a length of stiff wire. The other end portion of the lever is bent to provide a hook 84.
This lever is loosely received in an elongated recess 85 in the driver extending transversely across its axis and opening to the rear thereof. That portion of the recess which receives the hoolt inner end portion of the lever is located medially between the radial arms 63 and 64 of the driver, and the remaining portion of the recess which receives the rollercd end portion of the lever is formed in the radial arm 62 of the driver. In fact, the recess is of substantially cruciform shape at the outer end portion of the arm 62, the cross branch 36 thereof opening forwardly through the pad 55 and freely rotatably receiving the detent roller 73 to keep it from axial displacement relative to the lever 83. Hence, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the detent roller 73 projects forwardly entirely through the cross branch of the recess for engagement with the notched surface of the cam track 74-.
Also, as seen best in Figure 4, the hooked end projects forwardly and is loosely fulcrumed on an abutment 87 on the driver formed at the bottom of the recess 85 therein. The fulcrum S7, of course, provides a pivotal support upon which the lever may rock about an axis crosswise to, but spaced from, the axis of the driver, the lever being guided for such forward and rearward rocking motion of its rollered end by the walls of the recess 35.
The contact spring 59 which presses upon the front face of the contactor at the central portion thereof, is disposed partly between the bifurcations of the stem portion of the driver, but the major portion of this spring projects into an axial bore 39 in the driver opening to the rear of the body portion thereof slightly eccentric to its axis in the direction of the rollered end of the lever 83. The lever 33, of course, extends transversely across the bore 8% so that the contact spring 59 bears against a medial portion of the lever 83 and is thus confined between the latter and the rotary contactor. Consequently, the forward reaction force of the spring is divided by the lever 33 into a force which presses the detent roller 73 into firm engagement with the cam track 74, and another force which presses the small diameter hub 31 on the front of the driver into engagement with the rear end of the lock sleeve 11, through the engagement of the bent end portion of the lever with its fulcrum 87.
By this unique arrangement, not only is rattling of the lock mechanism in the housing precluded and a desirable degree of detent pressure provided, but friction due to rubbing engagement between the driver and the stationary parts of the mechanism is held to a minimum for the reason that a substantial portion of the forward reaction force of the contact spring is carried into the switch housing by the detent roller '73.
it will also be evident that, as the driver is rotated from one defined position to another, the peaks between the notches in the cam track rock the rollered end of the detent lever rearwardly against the contact spring 59, thus tending to reduce that portion of the forward reaction force of the spring which is carried onto the rear of the lock sleeve through the fulcrum 87 on the driver, thus, in effect, tending to free the driver from rubbing engagement with the rear of the lock sleeve. This appreciably lessens the friction resisting free rotation of the driver, and further minimizes the tendency of the driver to bind, as was the case in many past ignition start switches of this nature.
If desired, the driver may be lifted out of rubbing engagement entirely from the rear of the lock sleeve and all of the forward reaction force of the contact spring utilized to energize the detent means to further reduce friction tending to resist rotation of the driver, and to achieve a more pronounced detent action at the different defined positions of the switch. This may be accom plished, as shown in the modification illustrated in Figure 9, by providing a stop abutment 90 on the driver immediately behind the outer end portion of the lever 83, outwardly of the roller 73 thereon. This stop is engaged by the lever as soon as rotation of the driver causes the roller "13 to be forced rearwardly out of any of the detent notches in the cam track. In this latter event, the engagement of the lever arm with the driver abutment causes the driver to be cammed rearwardly in its bearings, away from engagement with the rear of the lock sleeve or any rearwardly facing thrust bearing against which the driver might bear to define the forward limit of motion thereof.
Also in the Figure 9 embodiment of the invention, the cam track is formed in the bottom of the counteroore which provides the bearing for the cylindrical body portion of the driver. it extends along an are which crosses a portion 91 at the rear of the lock sleeve, and in the running position of the switch the detent roller 73 directly engages the rear end of the sleeve, as seen in Figures 9 and 10, so that the force of the contact spring is imposed upon the lock mechanism to prevent the same from rattling on the switch housing. in all other positions of the detent roller on the cam track there is no need for guarding against rattling of the lock mechanism for the automobile will not be in operation.
From the foregoing description, together with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that this invention provides an improved ignition start switch having the following features: a minimum number of parts; simplicity of construction; improved performance by reason of the fact that friction opposing free rotation of the driver is held to a minimum; a rotary contactor which may swivel on its connection with the driver so that the force of a single contact spring acting upon the rotary contactor is equally divided among a combination of three stationary contact buttons on the terminal head circumjacent to the contactor axis in any defined position of the switch; utilization of part of the forward reaction force of the contact spring, or all of it, to energize detent means of novel construction to arrest rotation of the driver at the different defined positions of rotation of the contactor; and utilization of the stationary starter contact to cam the contactor away from the accessory contact and render the accessories circuits inoperative before the bridging member is brought into engagement with the starter con tact.
What I claim as my invention is:
l. in an electrical switch: a terminal head having a pair of spaced apart stationary contacts on one side there of and having terminals for connecting said contacts in an electrical circuit; a contactor overlying said side of the terminal head and comprising an insulative carrier having an electrically conductive bridging member thereon cooperable with the stationary contacts; means on the switch mounting the contactor for tilting motion toward and from said side of the terminal head and for back and forth sliding motion substantially parallel to said side of the terminal head, so that sliding motion of the contactor in one direction carries the bridging member into engagement with both of said stationary contacts, and sliding motion of the contactor in the opposite direction causes an end portion on the bridging member to slide off one of the stationary contacts to effect disruption of an electrical circuit controlled thereby; yieldable biasing means acting upon the contactor in a direction to urge the same toward the contact side of the terminal head to tnereby assure pressure engagement between the bridging member and the stationary contacts; movable actuating means on the switch; means drivingly connecting the contactor with said actuating means whereby the latter slides the contactor back and forth without interfering with tilting of the contactor relative to the actuating means and to tie terminal head; and cooperating cam means on the insulative carrier and on a part fixed with respect to the terminal head, brought into cooperative engagement substantially at the time said end portion of the bridging member begins to slide off said one stationary contact, during sliding movement of the contactor in said one direction, for tilting said contactor about a fulcrum comprising the other of said stationary contacts in a direction to carry said end portion of the bridging member away from said one stationary contact to thus effect simultaneous sliding and lifting of said end portion of the bridging member off said one stationary contact and thereby minimize the possibility of arcing as the circuit controlled by said stationary contacts is disrupted,
2. In a switch for controlling the ignition, accessory and starter circuits of an automotive vehicle: a terminal head having stationary supply, ignition and accessory con tacts on one side thereof substantially equispaced from one another; a manually operable contactor comprising an insulative carrier having an electrically conductive surface thereon cooperable with said contacts; means mounting the contactor on the switch for back and forth sliding movement substantially parallel to said side of the terminal head and for tilting motion toward and from said side of the terminal head, said contactor being slidable in one direction from an off position to a first switch on position wherein its electrically conductive surface bridges said supply, ignition and accessory contacts, and being slidable further in the same direction to a second switch on position wherein its electrically conductive surface bridges said ignition and supply contacts, and during which further movement said electrically conductive surface on the contactor rides off the accessory contact, said contactor being tiltable upon said ignition and supply contacts to carry its electrically conductive surface out of engagement with the accessory contact; biasing means acting upon the contactor to yieldingly urge the same into engagement with said contacts; a stationary starter contact on said side of the terminal head positioned near but spaced from the accessory contact, and engaged by the electrically conductive surface on the contactor in said second switch on position thereof; and cooperating cam means on said insulative carrier and the terminal head brought into engagement with one another by movement of the contactor toward said second switch on position, substantially at the time said electrically conductive surface of the contactor begins to ride off the accessory con tact and before said electrically conductive surface engages the starter. contact, for tilting the contactor about a fulcrum defined by its engagement with the ignition and supply contacts to lift said electrically conductive surface of the contactor out of engagement with the accessory contact and thereby speed the separation of said electrically conductive surface from the accessory contact.
3. in a switch for controlling the ignition, accessory and starter circuits of an automotive vehicle: a terminal head having stationary supply, ignition and accessory contacts on one side thereof substantially equispaced from one another; a manually operable contactor including an insulative carrier, and means on said carrier defining an electrically conductive surface cooperable with said contacts; means mounting said contactor on the switch for back and forth sliding movement substantially parallel to said side of the terminal head and for tilting motion to ward and from said side of the terminal head, said con tactor being slidable in one direction from an off position to a first switch on position wherein its electrically conductive surface bridges said supply, ignition and accessory contacts, and being siidablc further in the same direction to a second switch on position wherein its electrically conductive surface bridges said ignition and supply contacts but is disengaged from the accessory contact, said contactor being tiltable on said ignition and supply contacts away from engagement with the accessory contact; biasing means acting upon the contactor to yieldingly urge the same toward engagement with said contacts; a stationary starter contact on said side of the terminal head positioned near but spaced from the accessory contact, and engaged by the electrically conductive surface on the contactor in said second switch on position thereof; and cooperating cam surfaces on said insulative carrier and the starter contact brought into on gagement with one another during movement of the contactor toward said second switch on position, before the electrically conductive surface on the contactor engages the starter contact, for tilting the contactor about its points of engagement with the ignition and supply contacts to lift its electrically conductive surface out of engagement with the accessory contact and thereby assure that the accessory circuit will be broken before the starter circuit is completed.
4. in a switch for controlling the ignition, accessory and starter circuits of an automotive vehicle: a terminal head having spaced supply, ignition, start and accessory contact buttons stationarilj/ mounted on one side thereof,
' and accessory contact buttons being located a another and distance to one side of a line 1g through the contact surfaces of the battery and ignition contact buttons; a movable contactor overlying said side of the terminal head and including an insulative carrier having bridging means thereon shaped for selective engagement with said stationary contact buttons in different positions of the contactor; means on the switch mounting the contactor for rotation in opposite directions about an axis substantially normal to said side of the terminal head and located substantially centrally between the stationary contacts thereon, and for tilting motion of the contactor out of its axis of rotation, said contactor being rotatable in one direction from an off position at which its bridging means is disengaged from the supply contact to a first switch on position at which its bridging means engages said supply, ignition and accessory contacts, and being rotatable further in said direction to a second switch on position at which its bridging means engages said supply, ignition, and start contacts and during which further rotation said bridging means slides out of engagement with the accessory contact button, said contactor being tiltable upon said supply and ignition contact buttons in a direction to carry its bridging means away from engagement with the accessory contact button; biasing means yieldingly acting upon a portion of the contactor near its axis to yieldingly urge the same toward engagement with the stationary contact buttons and so that the centrally eX- erted force acts upon the tiltable contactor to effect seating of the same upon the stationary contact buttons with substantially equal contact pressure on each; and cooperating cam means on the terminal head and the contactor carrier brought into engagement with one another substantially at the time said bridging means on the contactor begins to slide out of engagement with the accessory contact button during rotation of the contactor to its second switch on position, and before the bridging means engages the start contact, for tilting the contactor out of engagement with the accessory contact button about is points of engagement with the supply and ignition contact buttons, to thereby speed the separation of the contactor from the accessory contact button.
5. In an electrical switch: a housing; a terminal head fixed on the housing at the rear thereof; a number of stationary contacts on the front of the terminal head; a manually operable actuator; means mounting the actu atcr on the front portion of the housing for rotation on an axis which intersects the terminal head; a rotatable contactor in the housing between the actuator and the terminal head and cooperable with the contacts on the latter; a driver connected with the actuator to rotate therewith and having a splined driving connection with the contactor so that rotation of the actuator is imparted to the contactor; means on the housing defining a cam track having a rearwardly facing notched detent surface adjacent to the driver and concentric to the axis thereof; a lever mounted on the driver to rotate bodily therewith and for pivotal motion relative thereto about an axis spaced to one side of and substantially normal to the driver axis, said lever extending across the driver axis and having its free end portion disposed at the opposite side thereof and lying behind said notched surface of the cam track; a roller on said free end portion of the lever tracking upon said rearwardly facing notched surface of the cam track; and a spring confined under compression between the contactor and the lever to urge the contactor rearwardly into engagement with the stationary contacts on the terminal head and tending to swing the lever forwardly about its pivot axis so that the roller on the lever is pressed against the cam track and cooperates with the notches therein to arrest rotation of the driver and the contactor coupled thereto at a number of different positions at which the contactor engages different combinations of stationary contacts.
6. in an electrical switch: a housing; a terminal head fixed on the housing at the rear thereof; a number of stationary contacts on the front of the terminal head; a manually operable actuator mounted on the front portion of the housing and constrained to rotation on an axis which intersects the terminal head, said actuator having a rearwardly facing surface providing a thrust bearing normal to the axis of actuator rotation; a contactor in the housing between the actuator and the terminal head and rotatable between a plurality of positions engaging ditferent combinations of stationary contacts; a driver coupled with the actuator to rotate therewith and having a splined driving connection with the contactor to transmit rotation thereto from the actuator, said driver having a reduced hub proiecting forwardly therefrom into engagement with the thrust bearing provided by the rear of the actuator; means on the housing defining a detent track having a rearwardly facing notched detent surface adjacent to the driver and concentric to the axis of rotation thereof; a lever mounted on the driver to rotate bodily therewith and for pivotal motion relative thereto about an axis spaced to one side of and substantially normal to the driver axis, said lever extending across the driver axis and having its free end disposed at the opposite side thereof and lying behind said detent surface on the housing; a roller on the free end portion of the lever tracking upon said detent surface of the housing; and a spring confined under compression between the contactor and an intermediate portion of the lever to urge the contactor into pressure engagement with the stationary contacts, the forward reaction force of said spring being divided by the lever into a force acting upon the roller to energize the detent means provided by the roller and the detent surface on the housing whereby the detent means defines the different positions of rotation of the contactor, and another force acting through the lever pivot to urge the hub on the front of the driver into engagement with the thrust bearing provided by the rear of the actuator to thereby prevent rattling of the actuator on the housing.
7. The electrical switch set forth in claim 6 further characterized by the provision of a stop on the driver positioned to be engaged by a part on the rollered end portion of the lever whenever the latter is rocked rearwardly on its pivot axis as a consequence of the roller thereon 14 being cammed out of a notch in the detent track, whereby the entire driver is moved rearwardly in the switch housing to disengage the hub on the front of the driver from the thrust bearing provided by the rear of the actuator and thus reduce friction resisting free rotation of the driver.
8. In an ignition switch of the character described: a housing; a terminal head fixed on the housing at the rear thereof and having a number of stationary contacts on its front; manually operable actuating means mounted on the front of the housing and comprising a rotatable member constrained to rotate on an axis which intersects the terminal head; a contactor in the housing overlying and cooperable with the stationary contacts on the terminal head, said contactor being rotatable in one direction from an off position to an ignition on position; a driver connected with said rotatable member to rotate therewith and having a spli'ned driving connection with the contactor to transmit rotation from the rotatable member thereto; detent means for defining said off and ignition on positions of rotation of the contactor, comprising a lever carried by the driver for bodily rotation therewith and for pivotal motion relative thereto about an axis spaced to one side of and substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the driver, said lever extending across the driver axis and having a roller journalled on its free end portion, and a rearwardly facing detent surface on the housing cooperable with said roller, said detent surface having a notch in which the roller may engage to define the off position of rotation of the contactor, and having another notch, angularly spaced from the first, in which the roller may engage to define the ignition on position of rotation of the contactor; a spring confined under compression between the contactor and an intermediate portion of said lever to supply contact pressure and to also energize the detent means; and means on said manually operable actuating means providing the bottom of said other notch and engaged by the detent roller in the ignition on position of the contactor to receive a part of the forward reaction force of said spring, whereby said actuating means is held against rattling on the housing in the ignition on position of the switch.
9. In an electric switch of the character described: a housing; manually operable actuating means mounted on the front portion of the housing and comprising'a rotatable member constrained to rotate on fixed axis; a terminal head fixed on the housing a distance axially rearwardly from the rotatable member, said terminal head having stationary contacts on a forwardly facing portion thereof; .a driver in the housing coupled to the rotatable member to rotate therewith, said driver having a cylindrical body portion adjacent to the rear of the rotatable member, and having a reduced hollow rearwardly projecting bifurcated stern; means on the front portion of the housing defining a bearing to rotatably receive a substantially short axis length of the cylindrical body portion of the driver; the terminal head having a well opening to its front and defining a pilot bearing coaxial with the bearing on the front portion of the housing, and into which a substantially short axial portion at the rear of said stem projects to rotatably support the driver from a point spaced rearwardly of said bearing on the front portion of the housing, the body portion of the driver having a bore therein opening rearwardly to the space between the stem bifurcations; a rotary contactor seated on said bifurcated stem and wholly carried thereby and having a splined driving connection therewith provided by apertures in the contactor through which the stem bifurcations pass, said contactor being coopera'ole with the stationary contacts on the terminal head, said apertures being large enough to provide for a limited degree of swiveling motion of the contactor out of coaxiality with respect to the driver stem so as to enable the contactor to tilt into equalized contact engagement with the stationary contacts despite misalignment between the front and rear bearings for the driver;
earnest detent means for arresting rotation of the contactor at a plurality of dififerent positions of rotation thereof at which the contactor cooperates with difierent combinations of stationary contacts, said detent means comprising a cam track on the switch housing having a rearwardly facing notched surface adjacent to the cylindrical body portion of the driver, a lever carried by the driver for bodily rotation therewith and for pivotal motion relative thereto about an axis spaced to one side of and substantially normal to the driver axis, said lever extending across said bore in the driver and across the driver axis to have its free end portion rearwardly overlying said cam track on the housing, and a roller journalled on the free end portion of the lever and tracking upon said cam track; and a spring received partly in said bore of the driver and partly in the space between the stem, bifurcations, said spring being confined under compression be tween the contactor and an intermediate portion of the lever to supply contact pressure for the contactor and to also energize the detent means by urging the roller into the notches in the cam track.
it). in a'switch of the character described: a housing; a terminal. head on the rear of the housing having its front facing the inside of the housing; an actuator mounted on the front portion of the housing for rotation on an axis substantially normal to the front of the terminal head; a contactor in the housing between. the actuator and terminal head, and comprising an insulative carrier, and a bridging member fixed to the rear of the carrier and facing the front ct the terminal head; means providing a rotation transmitting connection between the actuator and said contactor which affords the contactor a limited degree of tilting motion relative to its axis of rotation; stationary contacts on the front of the terminal head spaced from one another and from the contactor axis, and selectively engageable by the bridging member on the contactor in diifcrent positions of rotation thereof, two of said stationary contacts being adjacent to one another but projecting different distances forwardly from the front of the terminal head and located difierent distances from the axis of contactor rotation, said bridging member being shaped to have engagement with the shorter of said two stationary contacts in one position of rotation of the contactor and to have engagement with the longer of said two stationary contacts in another position of rotation of the contactor at which the longer contact holds the contactor tilted with its bridging member disengaged from the shorter contact; said carrier and the bridging member having registering recesses therein in which the longer contact is received in said first predetermined position of the contactor at which the bridging member thereon is in, engagement with the shorter con tact; and cam means on the carrier cooperable with said longer contact at a position intermediate said two prede remained positions of rotation of the contactor for ettecting titling of the contactor in a direction to carry its bridging member out of engagement from the shorter stationary contact during rotation of the contactor from said first to said second predetermined positions thereof, before the bridging member is brought into engagement with said longer contact.
ll. The switch set forth in claim 10 further characterized by the fact that the bridging member has a second recess therein to receive the shorter contact in said second designated position of rotation of the contactor; and wherein said cam means on the carrier is so located radially relative to said second recess as to effect tilting of the contactor away from the shorter contact concomitantly with the entrance of the shorter contact into said second recess during rotation of the contactor from said first to said second predetermined positions thereof.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,502,952 iacObi Apr. 4, 1950 2,679,557 Miller May 25, 1954 2,715,661 Miller Aug. 16, 1955
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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2908827A (en) * 1957-06-14 1959-10-13 Herbert H Hickman Auxiliary engine control device
US3026385A (en) * 1959-10-23 1962-03-20 Cutler Hammer Inc Push-button operator with locking means
US3056481A (en) * 1959-01-29 1962-10-02 Verson Allsteel Press Co Safety control circuit for presses and run button with safety lockout therefor
FR2019972A1 (en) * 1968-10-04 1970-07-10 Lucas Industries Ltd
US3539737A (en) * 1967-11-14 1970-11-10 Bosch Gmbh Robert Electric switch
US3800105A (en) * 1971-10-09 1974-03-26 Lucas Industries Ltd Rotary switch assembly with conductive elastomeric medium bridging fixed contacts
US4090046A (en) * 1977-06-20 1978-05-16 A.B.C. Auto Alarms, Inc. Key operated switch for automobile alarm or the like
US4295013A (en) * 1980-05-12 1981-10-13 The Bendix Corporation Ignition switch
US4394551A (en) * 1981-04-24 1983-07-19 Fort Lock Corporation Switch lock
US4558193A (en) * 1983-03-31 1985-12-10 C & K Components, Inc. Switch lock
US5252791A (en) * 1991-10-02 1993-10-12 Delta Systems, Inc. Ignition switch
US5756947A (en) * 1996-10-09 1998-05-26 Delta Systems, Inc. Ignition switch
US20080141744A1 (en) * 2005-02-24 2008-06-19 Schneider Electric Industries Sas Turning Knob with Lock
US20170169970A1 (en) * 2015-12-15 2017-06-15 Hyundai Motor Company Starting key apparatus of vehicle

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2502952A (en) * 1947-03-07 1950-04-04 Briggs & Stratton Corp Electrical switch
US2679557A (en) * 1951-07-16 1954-05-25 United Specialties Co Starter ignition switch
US2715661A (en) * 1953-04-14 1955-08-16 United Specialties Co Starter ignition switch

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2502952A (en) * 1947-03-07 1950-04-04 Briggs & Stratton Corp Electrical switch
US2679557A (en) * 1951-07-16 1954-05-25 United Specialties Co Starter ignition switch
US2715661A (en) * 1953-04-14 1955-08-16 United Specialties Co Starter ignition switch

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2908827A (en) * 1957-06-14 1959-10-13 Herbert H Hickman Auxiliary engine control device
US3056481A (en) * 1959-01-29 1962-10-02 Verson Allsteel Press Co Safety control circuit for presses and run button with safety lockout therefor
US3026385A (en) * 1959-10-23 1962-03-20 Cutler Hammer Inc Push-button operator with locking means
US3539737A (en) * 1967-11-14 1970-11-10 Bosch Gmbh Robert Electric switch
FR2019972A1 (en) * 1968-10-04 1970-07-10 Lucas Industries Ltd
US3800105A (en) * 1971-10-09 1974-03-26 Lucas Industries Ltd Rotary switch assembly with conductive elastomeric medium bridging fixed contacts
US4090046A (en) * 1977-06-20 1978-05-16 A.B.C. Auto Alarms, Inc. Key operated switch for automobile alarm or the like
US4295013A (en) * 1980-05-12 1981-10-13 The Bendix Corporation Ignition switch
US4394551A (en) * 1981-04-24 1983-07-19 Fort Lock Corporation Switch lock
US4558193A (en) * 1983-03-31 1985-12-10 C & K Components, Inc. Switch lock
US5252791A (en) * 1991-10-02 1993-10-12 Delta Systems, Inc. Ignition switch
US5756947A (en) * 1996-10-09 1998-05-26 Delta Systems, Inc. Ignition switch
US20080141744A1 (en) * 2005-02-24 2008-06-19 Schneider Electric Industries Sas Turning Knob with Lock
US7987688B2 (en) * 2005-02-24 2011-08-02 Schneider Electric Industries Sas Turning knob with lock
US20170169970A1 (en) * 2015-12-15 2017-06-15 Hyundai Motor Company Starting key apparatus of vehicle
US10121618B2 (en) * 2015-12-15 2018-11-06 Hyundai Motor Company Starting key apparatus of vehicle

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