US2874338A - Unit electrical switch for gang assembly - Google Patents

Description

Feb. v17, 1959 H. H. PEAsE UNIT ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR GANG ASSEMBLY Filed July 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l %WM UH T ,ly 6 mp m ,um ma M I/ MU M l f asf/y l j n n l Z H V. 2 B

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Arret/VIV Feb. 17, 1959 UNIT ELECTRICAL SWITCH FCR GANG ASSEMBLY Filed July 28, 1955 i@ @Jia O/l/o United States Patent O UNIT ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR GANG ASSEMBLY Harlow H. Pease, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Clum Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 28, 1955, Serial No. 524,858

Claims. (Cl. 317-99) This invention relates to a unit electrical switch designedfor gang assembly.

Any number of units, each comprising a casing and each enclosing a switch mechanism with its own operating lever, are assembled on a bus bar which provides mechanical as well as electrical connection and is suciently flexible so that the series of switches can be conformed to an inside or an outside curve. Conformation of the series to a concave surface requires a slight space along the bus bar between the casings of the individual unit switches. However, dowels with which the casing parts are provided have adequate projection to maintain the several units properly oriented under all conditions of use.

Right and left hand parts of the switch casing members are identical, each being provided with one dowel and one dowel socket and each being designed to cooperate with the enclosed switch mechanism and the operating lever member therefor, the lever member being pivotal respecting the casing member. Studs are desirably integral with one of such members. In one of the disclosed embodiments, the stud means is integral with the lever member to co-act with bearing means provided by the casing member. In another disclosed embodiment, the stud means is integral with the parts of the casing member to co-act with bearing means provided by the lever member.

In both disclosed embodiments, the lever member is desirably subject to the action of a single spring. In one embodiment, the spring tends to restore the lever Vmember to center, leaving both of its opposite contacts open. In the other disclosed embodiment, the spring acts across center to tend to maintain one or the other of the switch contacts closed. ln one of the disclosed embodiments, the spring is disposed within a portion of the actuating lever; in the other disclosed embodiment, the spring encircles a portion of the contact actuating lever.

In each case, the actuating lever operates a Contact carrier to cause the carrier to pivot from side to side for the closing of an. electrical circuit in each of its extremes of oscillatory movement. However, in one of the disclosed embodiments, the contact carrier pivots with the actuating lever, and in the other embodiment, the contact carrier pivots in the direction of oscillation which is opposite to that of the lever.

In both of the disclosed embodiments, the contact carrier desirably comprises a resilient bar having contact buttons at its ends, the arrangement being such that in the course of contact closing movement, the bar is exed not only to assure contact closing under firm spring pressure but, additionally, to assure a certain degree of wiping action of the movable contacts carried by the bar across the fixed contacts mounted in the switch casing.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switch unit embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

2,874,338 Patented Feb. 17, 1959 ice Fig. 3 is a view taken in section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the unit.

Fig. 5 is a view taken in section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view taken in section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective on a slightly enlarged scale showing the separated identical parts of the switch casing member.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a view taken in section generally in the plane indicated at 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view taken in section generally in the plane indicated at 10-10 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a gang of four switch units as mounted for use in a laterally projected direction, portions of the units being broken away to expose the connection to the mounting bus bar.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the switch gang shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a rear elevational view of the gang shown in Fig. 11, portions being broken away to expose the dowelled connection between switch casing members.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 1l showing a switch gang organized for mounting on a concave surface, portions being broken away.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing a switch gang assembled for mounting on a convex surface, portions being broken away.

Each unit switch 'comprises a casing member having identical right and left casing parts 17 and 18 separately illustrated in perspective in Fig. 7. These parts can conveniently `be molded of dielectric plastic to include butting faces 19 at their respective ends, registering notches at 20 which, together, make up a slot in which the handle lever member oscillates, and interior cavities at 21 which together make up the chamber in which the movable switch contacts are disposed, and longitudinal channels at 22 for the reception of the dielectric carrier plate 23 in which the fixed contacts hereinafter to be described are mounted.

Transverse external channels at 24 and 25 across the top and outside of each of the casing member parts receive spring clips 26 which hold the casing member parts together upon the back plate 23 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Each of the casing member parts of the switch comprises a flat lateral face or faces 27, socketed at 28 near one end of the switch and provided with a projecting dowel stud 29 at the other. When the parts 17 and 18 are reversed end for end to be connected by the clips 26 to constitute a switch casing member, the d owel stud 29 will project from one of such parts at one end of the switch and from the other part at the other end of the switch, whereby any desired number of the casing members can be assembled side by side to constitute a switch gang as shown in Figs. ll to 15, the dowels of each such unit being interlockingly engaged in the sockets of the next contiguous units to maintain the several units in registry. The length of the dowels and sockets is suicient to maintain registering engagement between such units, notwithstanding the slight angular displacement required to accommodate the gang for mounting on curved surfaces as in Figs. 14 and 15.

In the preferred construction, the flat lateral surfaces 27 adjacent the ends of the switch are somewhat spaced as best shown in Fig. 4, and the dielectric switch carrier plate 23 is laterally extended at 30 between the bosses providing surfaces 27 to preclude any longitudinal displacement of the carrier plate 23 relative to the switch agresse casing member parts. Thus, the assembly of plate 23 Within the parts and the application of the spring wire clips 26 securely locks the several parts of the casing uni- ;tarily together.

The dielectric carrier plate 23 for the xed Ycontacts supports xed .contact buttons .35 and36 within the switch `casing member at opposite ends thereof. These may conveniently Vtake theform of rivets serving to connect the contacts 35 and 36 with external terminals 37 and 38 of any desired form. In the embodiment shown in [Figs 1 to 7, there .is provided a iixed contact 40 disposed intermediate contacts 35 .and 36. Contact 46 is provided with an external terminal at 4l and has a -socket at 42. Awithin the switch casing in which there is pivoted a stud 43 to which a spring contact carrier'lever 44 is secured. Thisarm may have up-turned ends at 45 and 46 which may conveniently be guided on interior bosses 48 with which the casing member parts vare Yprovided. Near its respective ends, the spring carrier lever 44 carries .the movable contacts 513 and 51 which, in the pivotal movement of lever 44 upon the fulcrum provided `between `stud 43 and socket 42, are caused to engage selectively with switch contact 35 or 36 respectively as shown in Fig. k2. The riiexibility of the arm or lever 44. is such that if it is forced into a position in which one of the movable contacts engages one of the fixed contacts, the `arm iiexes resiliently with the result that vthere is a slight wiping movement between fixed and movable contacts to keep the contacting surfaces clean and free of corrosion.

For oscillation of the contact carrier 44, a manually operable lever 52 is provided. This lever may conveniently have a metallic cap at 53 for ornamentation. The cap encircles a head portion 54 of the lever which may be extended longitudinally of the switch casing member to an extent ,suliicient that it engages the outside of the member to dene one extreme position of oscillation of the lever member 52. Fig. 2 shows the lever member in one extreme position thus dened.

The lever member 52 has transversely aligned sockets at 55 as best shown in Fig. 6. These receive pintle studs 56 which are unitarily fixed in the respective parts of the casing member to project toward each other when these parts are assembled to constitute the casing member. The assembly is made with the lever member 52 lintervening between the studs 56, whereby the studs are constrained to enter the sockets 55 in the course of the assembly, thus leaving the lever member pivoted to the casing member for oscillation therein.

A ,switch actuator taking the form of a bar V58 with rounded end 59 is guided for reciprocation across the axis of oscillation of the lever member 52, the lever member having a bore at 6u in which the actuator 58 is reciprocably subject to the bias of a compression spring .61. As the lever member is oscillated counterclockwise from the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 2, the clearance of the projecting vend of the actuator 58 is reduced and the actuator is required to reciprocate into the lever member against the compression of spring .61. As soon as the lever member crosses dead center, the clearance available to the actuator 58 increases. At the same time, the actuator exerts its pressure upon the carrier spring 44 at the opposite side of the center upon which the carrier is pivoted, whereby the carrier is caused to move clockwise sharply across dead center to engage its movable contact l with xed contact 36. Thus, the circuit originally established through the spring contact carrier 44 and stud 43 from the supply terminal 41 to the output terminal 37 is sharply interrupted and a new circuit established from supply terminal 4l to output terminal 38. The device functions, therefore, asa snap action, double-throw, single pole switch.

Any number of the switch units described above can be assembled upon a single bus bar which supplies current to their central contacts 40. This is `done by simply riveting the central contacts 40 to the bus bar 55 as shown in Figs. l'l and '13 to l5. In the speciiic device as shown, the bus bar has a unitarily connected plug at 66 to be received into an appropriate receptacle. This, however, forms no part of the invention. If the gang of switches is intended .to .be mounted rectilinearly on a flat surface, the casing member parts assembled as separate units and mounted on a single bus bar are closely associated as in Figs. ll to l3. lf the switches comprisingthe gang are to be mounted on la concave surface, the several units are spaced .slightly apart along the bus bar 65 as shown in Fig. 14 to enable the bus bar to be curved into conformity with the mounting surface. On the other hand, if the gang is to be mounted on a convex surface as shown in Fig. l5, the several units are assembled as closely together as is conveniently possible as shown in Figs. ll to l5, and the bus bar is then bent to tit the convex Vsurface as shown in Fig. l5. Regardless of any iiexing of the bus bar within practical limits, the dowelling connection between switch casing member units will remain effective to keep the several units in registry.

Figs. S 'to l() disclose a modified embodiment. The

ycasing member parts 17d and 18@ are very similar to those already disclosed and held together by the same spring clips 26. However, the interior arrangement is somewhat dierent in that this double-throw switch has normally open contacts. The bar 530 which fulcrums in the socket 42 of the center contact 4t) is, in this embodiment, extended through the spring carrier 44, the center of which is fixed on the bar. The upper end of the bar vis received into the bore 6% of the lever 520, the lever being bodily reciprocable axially of bar 580 against the bias of a compression spring 68 which encircles the portion 69 of Vthe vlever and is seated at one end against `the carrier 44 and, at its other end, against the shoulder 70 of the lever.

lln this case, it is the lever member 520 rather than the casing member which is provided unitarily with the studs 72, while the casing member parts provide the bearing surfaces upon which such studs are movable. ln this embodiment, the bearings constitute cam surfaces 73 and 74 which are upwardly convergent as best shown in Fig. l0 so that any oscillatory displacement of lever 52@ from the position of Fig. 8 in either direction of oscillation will cause the studs 72 to slide downwardly upon one of the cam surfaces '73 or 74 toincrease the compression of spring 68, as has occurred in Fig. l0. Only by continued manual pressure clockwise upon lever 520, can the movable contact 51 be maintained in engagement /with fixed contact 36. As `soon as manual pressure is released, the reactiony of spring 68 and lthe interengagement of the studs 72V with cam` surfaces 74 of the opposite casing parts, restore studs 72 to their uppermost position Vat the apex'between cam surfaces 73 and 74 in lwhich position both of the circuits controlled by the switch are open as shown in Fig. 10.

It will be evident that the'disclosed construction is highly iiexible in that identical casing parts are assembled to make a unit switch casing member which is equipped with dowel and socket means for assembly in any desired member with like casing members to make up a gang of any desired number of switches. The means `for connecting and disconnecting the casing parts of the respective units is extremely simple and inexpensive, and the interlocking connection of the rear carrier plate with thev identical left and right hand casing parts is such that the mere application of the spring clips Vleaves the parts secure against `the possibility of displacement.

Both embodiments herein disclosed have the very substantial advantages V.of the flexible wiping engagement between fixed and movable contacts; the `unitarily mounted studs either yon kthe casing member or the lever member which interact with bearings provided by the other member,l and the use of a `single spring associated with the lever member to oppose displacement of the lever member from the selected position which, in the one embodiment, 1s in the open circuit position and, in the other embodiment, is one of the closed circuit positions.

I claim:

1. In an electrical switch, the combination with a contact carrier plate of a casing member comprising identical right and left hand parts having integral portions with which said plate is interlocked, the plate being dependent for its position upon interlock with said portions, and further means for the detachable connection of the casing parts, fixed switch contacts on the carrier, a pivotally movable lever member mounted for oscillation respecting the casing member, and -a movable contact carrier within the casing member having a movable contact engageable with and disengageable from the fixed contact of the carrier plate in the oscillation of said lever member, the movable contact carrier comprising a spring and its range of movement effected by said lever member exceeding that required to engage said movable and fixed contacts, whereby the spring is flexed in the engagement of the fixed and movable contacts for wiping movement between such contacts.

2. In an electrical switch, the combination with a contact carrier plate of a casing member comprising identical right and left hand parts having integral portions with which said plate is interlocked and further means for the detachable connection of the casing parts, fixed switch contacts on the carrier, ya pivotally movable lever member mounted for oscillation respecting the casing member and a movable contact carrier within the casing member having amovable contact engageable and disengageable from the fixed Contact of the carrier plate in the oscillation of said lever member, the movable Contact carrier comprising a spring tiexed in the engagement of the fixed and movable contacts for wiping movement between such contacts, one of said members being unitarily provided with laterally aligned studs and the other said member being provided with bearing surfaces engaged by said studs in the oscillation of the lever member respecting the casing member.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the bearing surfaces are provided by the casing member and comprise upwardly convergent cam surfaces at opposite sides of the lever member, in further combination with a compression spring acting outwardly on the lever member and compressed in the oscillation ofthe lever member by the interaction of the lever member studs with the said cam surfaces of the casing member.

4. The device of claim 2 in which the studs are carried by opposite parts of the casing member, the lever being pivotally movable thereon, the movable contact carri-er being fulcrumed on said fixed contact carrier plate, and the lever member comprising a spring biased plunger movable across the fulcrum of the movable contact carrier.

5. The device of claim 2 in further combination with spring means mounted for movement with the lever member in the oscillation thereof, `and means providing a seat for the spring means upon which the spring means is compressed in the oscillation of the lever member from a predetermined position.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the spring means is housed within the lever member, the seat including a plunger reciprocable outwardly of the lever member and the movable contact carrier being engaged by the plunger and mounted for pivotal movement respecting the fixed contact carrier plate, said plunger being movable across the pivot in the oscillation of the lever member.

7. The device of claim 5 in which said spring encircles a portion of the lever member and is seated against the lever member at its outer end, the said bearing surfaces comprising cam surfaces with which the stud means interact in the oscillation of the lever member in a direc` tion to increase the compression of the spring means by bodily displacing the lever member.

8. In a gang switch, a series of switch units each of which comprises like right and left hand casing member parts and means holding said parts in connection and each of which comprises a rear carrier plate in interlocking engagement with said parts and provided with fixed contacts, each such unit further including a pivot ally movable lever member and movable contact means provided with a movable contact carrier within the casing member and connected to said lever to be actuated thereby, lever fulcrum stud means unitarily positioned on one of said members, the other said member having complementary bearing surfaces; and a bus bar connected with corresponding fixed contacts of the several switch units and comprising mechanical as well as electrical connections between such units.

9. The device of claim 8 in which the casing member parts of the several units have interacting dowels and sockets engaged in the gang assembly of said units along said bus bar yfor Imaintaining the units in registration.

10. The device of claim 8 in which the bus bar is curved and the gang of switches is arranged in arcuate series along said bar.

1l. A switch unit comprising a fixed contact carrier plate, a central supply contact mounted in said plate, output contacts spaced at opposite sides of the supply contact and mounted in said plate, a pair of molded switch casing elements having plate-receiving channels in which the margins of the plate are engaged, means connecting the casing elements to each other in interlocked engagement with'the plate, a spring movable contact carrier having a boss pivoted upon the fixed supply contact first mentioned, said carrier comprising an electrical conductor having movable contacts engageable selectively with the output fixed contacts in the oscillation of the carrier upon the fixed supply-contact first mentioned, and lever means for the actuation of said carrier and including means for oscillating said carrier under pressure bias whereby to fiex the carrier in the engagement of each of its movable contacts with the respective fixed contacts of said plate.

12. A switch unit comprising a fixed contact carrier plate, a central supply Contact mounted in said plate, output contacts spaced at opposite sides of the supply contact and mounted in said plate, a pair of molded switch casing elements having plate-receiving channels in which the margins of the plate are engaged, means connecting the casing elements to each other in interlocked engagement with the plate, a spring movable contact carrier having a boss pivoted upon the fixed supply contact first mentioned, said carrier comprising an electrical conductor having movable contacts engageable selectively with the output fixed contacts in the oscillation of the carrier upon the fixed supply contact first mentioned and lever means for the actuation of said carrier and including means for oscillating said carrier under pressure bias whereby to flex the carrier in the engagement of each of its movable contacts with the respective fixed contacts of said plate, the lever being connected to the carrier to oscillate therewith.

13. The device of claim 12 iu which the lever connection to the movable contact carrier includes a plunger with respect to which the lever is reciprocable substantially radially of the pivot upon which the movable contact carrier oscillates, and a spring urging the lever outwardly respecting the plunger, the lever having laterally projecting studs and the casing parts having complementary cam surfaces engaged by the studs and outwardly convergent to define au intermediate lever position from which the lever is displaced against the bias of said spring in the oscillation of the lever in either direction from said position.

14. The device of claim 11 in which the lever has an independent fulcrurn upon said casing parts and is provided with a spring pressed plunger engaging said carrier and movable across the fixed supply contact first men- 7 tiene@ to pivot the movable .contest sar-.rief and te eren flexing Pressure thereon Y15- The combination with a flexible m15 bar o f a sans of switches, each unitarily comprising a casing havin-g fixed and movable contacts, `means physically and electrically connecting the bus bar with iixed contacts of the respective fixed nnits, the several units being entirely dependent on the bus bar for physical connection whereby the resulting gang may be formed in an arc by ilexing the bus bar.

16. The combination set forth in claim 15 `in which the xed contacts aforesaid are at the backs of the respective casings and manually operable levers prog'ect from the fronts of the respective casings and are connected to the movable contacts of said units, the several casings having means loosely interlocked to maintain their alignment in various positions to which said bus bar may be ilexed and the bus bar being located behind the several units, whereby the levers lproject outwardly there from.

l7. The device of claim 15 in which the several switch units comprise casings respectively provided with telescopic and releasable dowel and socket means interengaged to maintain the several units in oriented relationship along the bus bar Without physical connection between the units other than through the bus bar.

18. A switch of the character described comprising the combination with a contact carrier plate and fixed contacts mounted thereon, of a pair of complementary casing parts interlocked with the said plate and provided With means connecting them with each other about said xed contacts, said parts having complementary portions forming an interior cavity, a movable contact carrier within the cavity comprising a conductor having engagement with one of the xed contacts and having@ movable.centaeteneassable vwith another, lever means rivotallyfmorablewith :respect ltosaida.sins parts and having a handle .proiectingtherefrqm torV manipulation, means -for transmitting oscillatory movement of the lever means to the movable contactcarrier and a single'spring opposing oscillation of the lever means from a predetermined position.

19. The device of claim 18 in which vsaid spring comprises a coil spring and a portion of the lever means is disposed within the spring.

979,011 Levy Dec. 20, ,1910 1,676,608 Hubbell July v10, 192,8 1,925,612 Snell Sept. 5, 19,33 2,121,569 Peterson June 21, 1938 2,206,325 Lomax July 2, 1940 2,248,362 Krieger July 8, 1,941 2,352,936 Bryant July 4, 1944 2,440,824 Jackson May 4, 1948 2,506,196 Bourne May 2, 1950 2,632,039 Hammerly Mar. 17, 1953 2,686,234 v obszarpny Aug. 10, 1954 2,723,327 Gilbert Nov. s, 1955 2,727,956 Winter Dec. 20, 1955 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 113,504 Australia AJune 19,29

756,120 France Dec. 5, 1933 534,961 `Great Britain Mar. 24, 1941 1,076,800 France Apr. 2l, 1954

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