US2800806A

US2800806A - Control mechanism for push button and the like

Info

Publication number: US2800806A
Application number: US311850A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arlon G Sangster
Original assignee: ARTER GRINDING MACHINE Co
Current assignee: ARTER GRINDING MACHINE Co
Priority date: 1952-09-27
Filing date: 1952-09-27
Publication date: 1957-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1974-07-30

Description

y 30, 1957 A. G. SANGSTER 2,800,806

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PUSH BUTTON AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 27. 1952 28 v r 44- 54- q 30 2o 32 2 J6 4 38 l8 OG )5 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PUSH BUTTON AND vTHE LIKE Arlon G. Sangster, Leominster, Mass., assignor to Arter Grinding Machine Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 27, 1952, Serial No. 311,850

3 Claims. (Cl. 74-503) This invention relates to a new and improved control mechanism for push buttons and the like rectilinearly operable devices such as start and stop buttons for the control of machinery, and one of the principal objects of the present invention resides in the provision of an attachment which may be incorporated as a part of a conventional push 'button or the like so that the same may be operated by an angular motion of a control rod rather by axial pushing motion on the push button to the end that the push button or the like may be much more easily operated, particularly in cases where the push buttons are operated continually and also to the end that the control of the push button is made more positive.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of the combination of a push button and angularly movable means and mechanism converting the same into the reciprocatory motion required for operating the push button, said means including a spring opposing the conventional push button return spring, the strength of said spring being greater than the strength of the push button spring, this spring therefore overcoming the push button spring. This spring, however, has a travel only half the length of the push button spring and therefore pushes the push button only to a mid point, at which point both contacts are open. The device therefore functions as a spring centered normally open double throw switch.

A further object of the invention includes the provision of a device having means for attachment to the housing of a push button or other similar rectilinearly movable operator element, a shell on the attachment, a handle to rotate or oscillate the shell, a cam sleeve in the shell movable therewith, a cross pin moved rectilinearly only as the cam sleeve is moved angularly or rotatively, means to constrain the cross pin to a rectilinear path, and a plunger connected to the cross pin for operation thereby, the attachment being secured to the housing in position to cause depression of the push button upon movement of the handle in one direction. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the device;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section therethrough.

The reference numeral indicates a bracket for the support of a conventional push button 12 having an exteriorly threaded casing 14. The push button 12 is provided with a return spring 16, so that when the operator pushes down upon plunger 12, the same is automatically returned by the spring. The plunger 12 works in the casing 14, and the latter is fixed on a machine or on the usual push button housing bracket 10. These push buttons may be used for starting or stopping machinery and in many other applications. In many instances, the push buttons have to be operated continually so that the Opera 2,800,806 Patented July 30, 1957 tors finger becomes sore and tired from the operation thereof.

The present invention comprises a nut 18 adapted to be threaded upon the threads 14 and this nut is adapted to be firmly seated on the threads on the push button hous ing. Secured to the nut or integral therewith there is a central shell, sleeve or the like indicated at 20. This shell at its upper end is provided with a boss 22 into which is threaded a fastener holding plate 24. A washer 26 is disposed on the top of the sleeve 20 which is closed at thisend, and forms a rotative bearing for an exterior housing 28 to which is secured a handle 30. When the handle 38 is moved angularly as for instance between the o' and forward positions in Fig. l, the exterior housing 28 is similarly rotated. The plate 24 holds the housing 28 to the shell20, but housing 28 is rotatable thereon.

The interior of housing 23 hasa series of longitudinal serrations 34 to receive a mating set of serrations on the outside surface of a sleeve 32. These serrations serve to lock

parts

28, 32 together, so that they move together, and they also serve the purpose of providing a plurality of relative angular positions of the housing 28 in relation to the sleeve 32. In this fashion, the handle can be positioned at the desired angular position at assembly.

Sleeve 32 is provided with a pair of oppositely located angularly directed slots indicated at 36 and these slots receive a cross pin 38, which pin extends through the interior sleeve 20 and also through a central plunger 40. When sleeve 32 is moved angularly, the pin moves axially by a camming action caused by slots 36, thus moving the plunger 40 with it; and the plunger 40 bears on the push button 12, thus depressing the latter. The sleeve 32 is provided with vertical slots 42 receiving the pin 38 and allowing the same to move up and down with respect thereto.

The bracket 10 is assumed to be fixed to a support such as a machine frame or housing, not shown, in the usual and conventional application of any switch to any use. The casing 14 being fixed to the fixed bracket 10 is in turn fixed, and the nut 18 is turned upon the casing 14, so that this nut is also fixed. The sleeve 20 being fixed to or integral with nut 18, as above stated, is likewise fixed, while exterior housing 28 and sleeve 32 may be turned on a vertical axis as far as permitted by the relative motion of slots 36 limited by rotationally fixed pin 38. Pin 38 can move vertically in slots 42, and thus also moves plunger 40 and plunger 12, the latter having the spring 16 to return the plungers upwardly.

A coil spring 44 may be used in some cases and surrounds the innermost shell 20, being located interiorly of shell 32.

When this spring is furnished, its function is to center the operating handle in the mid-position of its travel. This spring (and washer) can travel only half the strokelength of the device, at which point further travel is restricted by a shoulder on the body 18. Since this spring 44- is stronger than spring 16, it can overcome spring 16 to the extent of its travel, thereby centering the handle and stopping the contacts mid-way with all poles open. Any movement of the handle in either direction is opposed by one spring or the other and thereby the handle is returned to the center position.

This invention provides an extremely evenly and smoothly operable device and one which an operator may utilize for long periods of time without fatigue. At the same time, the operator exercises much more constant and even control of the push button, so that he is enabled to work it exactly as required by the machine or the operation that it is engaged upon.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. An attachment for operating a push button or the like having a housing and a spring, comprising means to mount the attachment on the push button housing, a plunger to contact and depress the push button, means to restrict the plunger to a rectilinear motion, said means including a pin on the plunger and a sleeve fixed with relation to the housing, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot receiving the pin, another sleeve, a cam slot angularly disposed in the second-named sleeve, said pin extending into the cam slot, means to angularly move the secondnamed sleeve, and a spring normally urging the plunger toward the push button and opposing the push button spring.

2. The attachment of claim 1 wherein the two springs balance so that the push button stays where positioned by the plunger.

3. The attachment of claim 1 wherein the plunger spring is weaker than the push button spring.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Coldwell Sept. 5, 1893 Nygren Nov. 11, 1913 Hooper Ian. 9, 1917 De Reamer Oct. 22, 1918 Lightfoot Oct. 14, 1952 Morton Mar. 30, 1954 Lahti June 8, 1954 Weber et al Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS France July 2, 1934 (Addition to 755,967) Switzerland Jan. 4, 1943 France Aug. 17, 1926 France Jan. 24, 1935