US2861142A

US2861142A - Snap switch-large air gap

Info

Publication number: US2861142A
Application number: US614115A
Authority: US
Inventors: Millerwise Carl Herman
Original assignee: American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Current assignee: American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Priority date: 1956-10-05
Filing date: 1956-10-05
Publication date: 1958-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-18
Also published as: BE589210Q

Description

Nov. 18, 1958 Filed Oct. 5. 1956 c. H. MILLl-:RwlsE 2,861,142

SNAP SWITCH-LARGE AIR GAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1s, 195s C. H. MILLERWISE SNAP SWITCH-LARGE AIR GAP Filed oci. 5. 195e 2 Sheens-Shee'I 2 funn U INVENTOR, CARL Hem/AN ,t//LLEAl/Wse BY OLSEN, 5W/5 MW/15 United States Patent rCC? 2,861,142 SNAP SWITCH-LARGE AIR GAP Carl Herman Millerwise, Trumbull, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corporation, New7 York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 5, 1956, Serial N o. 614,115 11 Claims. (Cl. 20o-67) This invention relates to a vsnap switch in which a blade member may be moved with a snap action by a relatively small actuating force.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved snap acting device that is simple in construction, sensitive in operation and which has a comparatively long service life.

vAnother object is to provide a snap switch wherein the switch blade is stressed during its installation in the switch in such manner as to reduce switch-fabrication costs and still insure uniform operating characteristics in successive'switehes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved snap acting device which when actuated in one direction will return to its original position, when the actuating force is removed, or can be adjusted so when actuated in one direction will remain until actuated from the opposite direction.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved snap acting device in which the actuating force required to operate the device is relatively small and may be accurately regulated.

A vfurther object of this invention is to provide a slotted electrical switch blade having snapping characteristics wherein the slot does not unduly increase resistance to current flow through the blade.

A still further object of this invention is` to provide an electrical snap switch of the .foregoing character in which contact bounce is held to -a minimum, and undue heating of the blade s eliminated. Y v i Another object is to provide aswitch blade of the foregoing character in which the actuating forcefis imposed on the blade in such a manner as to cause a side contact roll effect on the snapping contact end of the blade, whereby to help prevent sticking of` said contact end on the Contact members of the switch A still further object of this invention is to provide a snap switch in which the supporting structure-for the blade can be adjusted to alter the magnitude of the snap space differential fro-m one contact position to another.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings: Y

Figure 1 shows a top View of one embodiment of an assembled snap switch of this invention. 'l

Figure 2 shows a side elevational view of the Figure l embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a blade usable in a second embodiment of the invention. Y

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 'but'taken after plungers 60 have deflected

bands

44 and 48 from vtheir Fig. 2 positions.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 -in Fig; 1.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction-and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying draw- V 2,861,142 Patented Nov, 11.8,' 1958,

ings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments.

bly of Figures l and 2 there is a terminal structure including a supporting structurev12 having'at one end a rst level 1 4 and a Asecond level 16, and at the other end a contact post 18 in which arevpositioned a rst contact member 20 connected to conducting element 22 and a second contact member 24 connected to conducting element 26. Contacts 20 and 24 are spaced from each other by a relatively large .air gap to prevent current arcing thereacross. A f

A flexible switch blade 28 ris positionedY atwisey in the supporting structure 12 with its contact end 30 and contact button 31 between contact members 20 and 24.. The terminal end 32 of blade 28 is sandwiched between wall means shown as first plate member 34 and second e plate member 36 and rigidly fastened to the iirst level I 44,46 and 48 respectively.

14 of the stepped support structure -12 by means of screw 38. Blade 28 has two central substantially parallel slots 40 and 42 therein which divide thevcentral portion of blade 28 into first, second, and third bands Plate member 34 is provided with a finger 50 extend- ,ing therefrom and arching first away from and then into contact in a concave mannerY with the second band 46 of blade 28. Finger 50 presses band 46 in the direction of support 12 and provides force means on band 46 tending to prevent section 46 from bowing with

sections

44 and 48 .in such a manner that vthe contact end 30 would move in a direction toward contact member 20.

Plate member 36 is pressed between blade 28 and first level 14. Member 36 is provided with two iingers 52 extending therefrom in a relatively rigid manner iirst Yinto convex contact with

bands

44 and 48 near their terminal ends and second away from the

bands

44 and 48 into contact with the first level 14. These iingers provide force means to

deect bands

44 and 48 out of the plane of band 46, thereby urging contact end 30 of blade 28 resiliently against contact member 20. Thus as shown in Figure 2

bands

44 and 48 tend to bow in a direction toward contact member 20 and band 46 tends to bow in the opposite direction.

Plate member 36 also is provided with a finger S6 extending therefrom rst away Afrom the blade 28 into convex contact with the second level 16 of the terminal support member and second away from the second level 16 to be in concave contact with a point on second band 46 near its contact end 30. Finger 56 provides force means on band 46 tending to prevent the central portion, of band 46 from moving in a directionvr toward level 16.

In operation of the Figure 1 snap switch, when a force in the arrow 59 direction is applied to-

bands

44 and 48 through the mechanism of reciprocable plungers 60, the direction of the resultant forces in

bands

44, 46 and 48 'will be changed; band 46 will buckle over finger 56 and the contact end 30 will be caused to snap from contact member 20 into contact with member 24, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2. Fig. 4 shows the positions of the bands as the contact end 30 is just beginning to snap from member 20 toward member 24. On upward movement of plungers 60, the primary deflecting force at 52 will cause the contact end 30 to snap back into its original position. The snapping characteristics of blade 28 may be adjusted by presetting the point of contact finger 56 has with band 46 toward and away from level 16.

If desired there may be employed a switch blade such purpose ofl de-j as blade 28a depicted in Figure 3 wherein there is a single central slot 40a forming first and

second band portins

44a and 46a separating the contact end portion 30a from the other end portion 32a. Blade 28a is adapted for installation in a switch structure (not shown) which is generally similar to structure 12 except for the structural modifications thereof necessary to support a two band section blade instead `of a three band section blade. When blade 28a is installed on its supporting structure a slight twisting motion will be given to the blade and an actuating force .applied to blade portion 44a through the mechanism of a plunger 60a, and the contact end 30a will be deflected slightly in a sidewise direction from band 44a to band 46a. This side contact roll effect can be accentuated as shown in Figure 3 by'oi-centeringly positioning contact button 31a in alignment with band 46a iustead of in alignment with slot 40a. In this manner possibility of sticking of the contact end of the blade at the contact members may be reduced.

It is a preferred feature of the invention to have the slots (4l), 42 or 40a) closed ended, i. e. completely surrounded by blade material. fIn this way there is continuous unimpeded material for flow of electrical current through the blade. Thus having no slots running crosswise through the blade improves the current llow characteristics. t

It will be noted that prior to their installation on their supporting structures, both blades 28 land 28a are flat unstressed stampings. Blade stressing is accomplished wholly by turning down of screw 38. This method of bladeV stressing has been found to reduce switch-fabrication costs while still insuring uniform operating characteristics in successive switches.

I claim:

1, In a snap switch: a terminal structure having first and second spaced contact members at one end and a terminal structure at the other end; a contact blade having a contact end disposed between the said contact members, having an opposite terminal end connected to the said terminal structure and said blade being slotted to form first and second bands; first force means acting on said first band near its terminal end tending to urge said Contact end of said blade resiliently against said first contact member; `second force means acting on said second band near its terminal end tending to prevent said band from moving in the direction of said first force; third force means acting on `sa-id second band near its said contact end tending to prevent said band from moving in substantially the opposite direction as said first force; and fourth force means adapted to act on said first band between the said first force means and the contact end of said first band-in substantially the opposite direction as said first force so that the contact end of said blade will snap from said first contact member to said second contact member when said fourth force is applied.

2. In a snap switch: a terminal structure having first and second spaced contact members at one end and a terminal member at the other .endg a contact blade having a contact end disposed between said Contact members, having an opposite terminall end connected to said terminal member and having an elongated slot therein in a direction substantially parallel to a line joining the said two blade ends to form first and second bands therebetween; first force means acting on said first band near its terminal end tending to urge said ,contact end of said blade resiliently against said first contact member; second force means acting on Said second band near its terminal end tending lto prevent said band from moving insubstantially the same direction as said first force; third force means acting on said second band near its said contact end tending to lprevent said band from moving in substantially the opposite direction as said first force; and fourth force means adapted to act on said first band between said first and third force means in substantially the opposite direction as said first force, lso that the contact end of said blade (-1) will snap from said first contact member to said second contact member when the said fourth force is applied and (2) will snap back to said first contact member upon removal 4of said fourth force.

3. The snap switch of clairn 2. wherein the contact end of the blade has a contact button in alignment with said second band so that when said fourth force means is applied to said first band the side contact roll effect on the Contact end is thereby accentuated.

4. In a snap switch: a terminal structure havingrst and second spaced contact members at one end and a terminal support member at the other end; a slotted contact blade having a contact end disposed between the said contact members, having an opposite terminal end connected to the said terminal support member and having two central slots therein in a direction substantially parallel to a line joiningthe two blade ends to fqrm rst, second and third bands therebetween; first force means acting on said first and third bands near their terminal end tending to urge said contact end of said blade resiliently against Said first contact member; second force means acting on said second band near its terminal end tending to prevent said band from moving in substantially the same direction as said first force; third force means acting on said second band near its contact end tending to prevent said band from moving in substantially the Opposite direction as Said first force; and fourth lforce means adapted to act on said first and third bands between said first and third force means in substantially the opposite direction as said first force, so that the contact end of said blade (l) will snap from said first conta-ct member when the said fourth force is applied and (2) will snap back to said first contact mem-ber upon removal of said fourth force.

5. A snap switch comprising: a terminal structure having first and second spaced contact members and a terminal support member at the other end having rst and second levels; a slotted contact blade having a contact end disposed between the said contact members, having an opposite terminal end connected to said first level of said terminal support member and said blade being slotted to form first and second bands each having first and second opposite faces; said terminal support member having rst and second plate members, said second plate memberbeing pressed by the blade terminal end against said first level, having a first finger extending first into contact with the second face of the first band near its terminal end and second away from said second face into contact with the said first level, and said second plate'member having a second linger extending first away om the blade into Contact with said second level of saidterminal support member and second away from the said second level to be in contact with the second face of the second band near its contact end, and said first plate member pressing the blade terminal end against the said first level and having a finger extending first away from and then into Contact with the first face of the second `band near its terminal end; so that (l) when said first band is depressed in a direction toward the said second level the contact lend of the blade will snap from the said first contact member to the said second contact member and (k2) when the said first band is no longer so depressed the contact end will snap back to said first contact member.

6. A snap switch comprising: a terminal structure having first and second spaced contact members and a terminal support member at the other end having first and second levels; a slotted contact blade having a contact end disposed between the said contact members, having an opposite terminal end connected to said first level of said terminal support member and said blade being slotted to form first and second bands each having first and second opposite faces; said terminal support member having first and second plate members, said second plate member being pressed by the blade terminal end against said first level, having a first finger extending rst into contact with the second face of the first band near its terminal end and second away from said second face into contact with the said first level thereby tending to urge said contact end of said blade resiliently against said first contact member, and said second plate member having a second finger extending first away from the blade into contact with said second level of said terminal support member and second away from the said second level to be in contact with the second face of the second band near its Contact end thereby tending to prevent said second band from moving in a direction toward said second level, and said first plate member pressing the blade terminal end against the said rst level and having a finger extending rst away from and then into contact with the first face of the second band near its terminal end thereby tending to prevent said band from moving in a direction away from said first level; so that (1) when said rst band is depressed in a direction toward the said second level the contact end of the blade will snap from the said first contact member to the said second contact member and (2) when the said first band is no longer so depressed the contact end will snap back to said first contact member.

7. A switch comprising: a support structure; a contact blade positioned fiatwise in said support structure; said blade being slotted to define first and second spaced band sections interconnected at the contact end of said blade; said support structure including first and second walls clamping the other end of the blade therebetween, said second wall projecting into the at plane of said first section whereby to deform said first section out of the general blade plane and develop a resultant force in the first section tending to deflect said contact end in the direction of the deformed section, said second wall being in engagement with said second section near its contact end, and said rst wall being in engagement with said second section near its said other end; and a portion of the rst section adjacent the contact end being out of registry with the support structure, whereby when a force is directed against said portion in opposition to the force of said deforming wall said portion is forced to move through the plane of the second section so as to change the direction of said resultant force, thereby causing said engaging wall means of said second section to buckle the second section in the direction of the deformed section and snap the contact end in a direction away from the deformed section.

8. A switch comprising: a support structure; a contact blade positioned flatwise in said support structure; said blade being slotted to define rst and second spaced band sections interconnected at the contact end of said blade; said support structure including rst and second walls clamping the other end of the blade therebetween, said second wall projecting into the fiat plane of said first section near its said other end whereby to deform said first section out of the general blade plane and develop a resultant force in the first section tending to deect said contact end in the direction of the deformed section, said second wall being in engagement with said second section near its contact end, and said rst wall being in engagement with said second section near its said other end; and a portion of the first section adjacent the contact end being out of registry with the support structure, whereby (1) when a force is directed against said portion in opposition to the force of said deforming wall said portion is forced to move through the plane of the second section so as to change the direction of said resultant force, thereby causing said engaging wall means of said second section to buckle the second section in the direction of the deformed section and snap the contact end in a direction away from the deformed section, and (2) when said force is removed from said portion the contact end will snap back to its originally defiected position.

9. A method for imparting snapping character to a slotted blade having a contact end and depending therefrom first and second bands and another end adapted to be positioned in a support structure, which comprises: imposing a first force means on said first band near its said other end tending to deflect said contact end in the direction of said first force; imposing a second force means on said second band near its said other end tending to prevent another end portion of said second band from moving in the direction of said first force; imposing a third force means on said second band at a point near its contact end tending to prevent said point of said second band frommoving in a direction opposite to said first force; and having a fourth force means adapted to be imposed on said first band between the said first force means and the contact end of said band in a direction opposite to said first force, thereby causing said third force means to buckle said second blade section between its contact 'end and the second force means in the direction of the first force and snap the contact end in a direction opposite to said first force.

10. A method for imparting snapping character to a slotted blade having a contact end and depending therefrom first and second bands and another end adapted to be positioned in a support structure, which comprises: imposing a first force means on said first band near its said other end tending to deflect said contact end in the direction of said first force; imposing a second force means on said second band near its said other end tending to prevent another end portion of said second band from moving in the direction of said first force; imposing a third force means on said second yband at a point near its contact end tending to prevent said point of said second band from moving in a direction `opposite to said first force; and having a fourth force means adapted to be imposed on said first band between the said first force means and the contact end of said band in a direction opposite to said first force, so that (1') imposition of said fourth force thereby causes said third force means to buckle said second Ablade section between its contact end and the second force means in the direction of the first force and snap the contact end in the opposite direction of said first force, and (2) removal of said fourth force thereby permits the contact end to snap back into its original deflected position.

11. A switch comprising support structure; a blade positioned fiatwise on said support structure; said blade having a slot therein to define rst and second spaced blade sections and a third vblade section interconnecting said first and second support structure including two walls clamping a portion of the blade therebetween, one of said walls projecting into the plane of the first section but engaged with the second section whereby to deform said second section out of the plane of the first section and develop a first force in the second section tending to deflect the third section in the direction of the deformed section; a portion of the second section adjacent the third section being out of registry with the support structure, whereby when a force is directed against said portion in opposition to the first force said portion is forced to move through the plane of the first section so as to change the direction of the first force, thereby causing the first blade section to buckle in the direction of tle deformed section and snap the third section in a direction away from the deformed section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,960,020 McGall May 22, 1934 2,697,145 Winet Dec. 14, 1954 2,700,079 Haydon Jan. 18, 1955 .FOREIGN PATENTS 567,614 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1945