US2890307A - Switch assembly - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1959 D. F. MOYER SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed March 26, 1958 FIG.

INVENTOR DAVID E FIG. 6

H18 ATTORNEY United States Patent SWITCH ASSEMBLY David F. Moyer, Dayton, Ohio Application March 26, 1958, Serial No. 724,017

12 Claims. (Cl. 200--93) This invention relates to a switch assembly.

An object of this invention is to provide an electric switch assembly which may be built in a small physical size.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a switch mechanism which may have the parts thereof easily and readily assembled, thus making low cost high speed assembly possible.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly having a movable contact member in which there is substantially single point contact on each closing operation thereof, and in which the movable contact member has an infinite number of available contact points.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly in which there is a minimum number of moving parts and in which there is a minimum amount of movement of any moving part.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly in which there is a minimum moving mass.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch mechanism having very high speed operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a switch assembly in which there is a high ratio of impact and sealing force to moving mass in a movable contact member.

Another object of this invention is to provide an easily assembled switch mechanism in which the contact points are accurately located without adjustment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a high speed switch assembly in which the amount of contact bounce is extremely small.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manu facture, and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a switch assembly of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 2 also shows portions of the switch assembly which were broken away from Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the electric circuits of a switch assembly of this invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a switch assembly of this invention comprises a base 10 which is of magnetizable material. Firmly attached to the base 10 is a core member 12. Herein the base 10 is shown as being provided with an aperture into which one end of the core 12 is firmly positioned. The core 12 is also attached to the base 10 by means of welding or the like as shown by reference numeral 14 in Figures 2 and 3.

The portion of the core 12 which is opposite the base 10 includes a tapered end 16. The core 12 is a permanently magnetized body in which the tapered end 16 is of either a north or a south polarity and the end of the core 12 which is attached to the base 10 is of the opposite polarity. A ball or sphere 18 which is made of magnetizable material is magnetically held against the tapered end 16 of the core 12.

Encompassing the core 12 and in engagement with the base 10 is a thin sheet of insulator material 20.

Encircling the core 12 along a portion of the length thereof is an insulator sleeve 22. Encircling the insulator sleeve 22 is an inner hollow cylinder or shell 24 which is open at both ends thereof. One end of the inner cylinder or shell 24 is in firm engagement with the sheet of insulator material as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The other end of the cylinder or shell 24 has a tapered protuberance 26 which extends somewhat radial and has an arcuate terminal surface 30 adjacent the sphere or ball 18.

Encompassing the inner cylinder or shell 24 is an operating coil 34 having retainer rings 35. One end of the operating coil 34 is provided with a terminal lead 36 which is attached to a connector rod 38. The other end of the operating coil 34 is provided with a terminal lead 40 which is attached to a connector rod 42. The connector rods 38 and 42 are held by a header or retainer block 44 having insulator beads 46 through which the connector rods extend. The insulator beads 46 may be of glass or other suitable material.

The retainer block or header 44 is attached to an insulator pad 48. The insulator pad 48 is attached to a yoke 50 which straddles the tapered end 16 of the core 12. The yoke 50 is firmly attached to the core 12 adjacent the tapered end 16 by any suitable means, such as by welding or the like. The yoke 50 is of electric conductor material and is attached to a connector rod or post 54 which is also carried by an insulator bead 46 of the retainer block 44. The connector rod 54, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, has a lower end 56 adjacent the ball 18.

Encompassing the operating coil 34 is an outer cylinder or shell 58, similar to the inner cylinder or shell 24. One end of the outer cylinder or shell 58 is in firm engagement with the sheet of insulator material 20. The other end of the outer cylinder or shell 58 is provided with a tapered protuberance 60 which extends substantially radially and has an arcuate terminal surface 62 adjacent the sphere or ball 18, as shown in Figure 4.

As stated above, the ball 18 is magnetically held by the core 12; furthermore, the ball 18 is retained from falling from the core 12 during violent jarring or shaking of the assembly as movement of the ball 18 in any direction is limited by the protuberances 26 and 60, by the core 12, and by the lower end 56 of the connector rod 54.

A connector rod or post 66 is held by an insulator head 46 of the retainer block 44 and firmly connects to the tapered protuberance 60 of the outer shell 58, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The protuberance 60 has a socket 67 into which the rod 66 is secured.

The inner cylinder or shell 24 has a connector rod 68 firmly attached thereto by soldering or welding or the like, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The connector rod 68 extends through a glass insulator bead 46 of the header or retainer block 44, as shown in Figure 3. A suitable cover member, not shown, may enclose the outer cylinder 58 and the header 44.

Any suitable source of electrical energy is attached to the connector rods 38 and 42 for energization of the operating coil 34. The source of electrical energy attached to the connector rods 38 and 42 is of such a character that the polarity of the electrical energy may be readily controlled. Thus, for example, when the polarity of the connector rod 38 is positive, current flows through the operating coil 34 in a given direction. Likewise, when the polarity of the connector rod 42 is positive, current flows through the operating coil 34 in the opposite direction.

The outer cylinder 58 and the inner cylinder 24 are magnetically connected by means of a portion of the base member with only a slight air gap caused by the sheet of insulator material 20. Due to the fact that the operating coil 34 is disposed intermediate the outer shell 58 and the inner shell 24, the direction of current flow through the operating coil 34 controls the polarity of magnetization or the direction of flow of magnetic flux in shells 24 and 58. With current flow through the operating coil 34 in a given direction, the protuberance 60 of the outer shell 58 becomes a north pole while the protuberance 26 of the inner shell 24 becomes a south pole.

The ball 18 is normally in engagement with the arcuate surface 30 or 62 of the protuberance 26 or 60, respectively, while the ball 18 is also, of course, magnetically held in engagement with the core 12. The ball 18 thus completes a magnetic circuit formed by the core 12 and one of the shells 24 or 58.

For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that the polarity of the tapered end 16 of the core 12 is north. Therefore, when the operating coil 34 causes the protuberance 26 of the inner shell 24 to be of north polarity and the tapered protuberance 60 of the outer shell 58 to be of south polarity the ball 18 is attracted toward the protuberance 60 while the ball 18 is repelled from the protuberance 26. Thus, the ball 18 firmly engages the arcuate surface 62 of the protuberance 60 while the ball remains in engagement with the tapered end 16 of the core 12. Thus, the core 12 is electrically connected to the outer shell 58. Thus, an electric circuit exists between the connector post 54 and the connector post 66. The ball 18 remains firmly in engagement with the protuberance 60 after the coil 34 is deenergized, thus maintaining a closed magnetic circuit from the core 12 to the outer shell 58.

Continuing the illustration with the tapered end 16 of the core 12 being of north polarity, when the operating coil 34 causes the protuberance 60 to be of north polarity and the protuberance 26 to be of south polarity, the ball 18 is repelled from the protuberance 60 and attracted to the protuberance 26. Thus, the ball 18 firmly engages the arcuate surface 30 of the protuberance 26 while maintaining engagement with the tapered end 16 of the core 12. Thus, the core 12 is electrically connected to the inner shell 24. The ball 18 remains in engagement with the protuberance 26 after deenergization of the coil 34. During such engagement of the ball 18 an electric conductor circuit exists from the connector rod 54 to the connector rod 68.

Thus, it is understood that by controlling the applica tion of the electrical energy applied to the operating coil 34, including control of the polarity of the electrical energy, switching operation is carried out.

It is further to be understood that due to the fact that the shell members and the core and intermediate members are cylindrical, close tolerances between contact points may be maintained in a switch mechanism which is easily and readily assembled.

The switch assembly of this invention can be constructed in a very small physical size in consideration of the currents which may be controlled thereby.

Furthermore, due to the fact that the reluctance of the magnetic circuit is increased only at the point of contact of the ball member, a high ratio of sealing force to moving mass in the ball member is possible. The speed of response of the switch assembly is obviously very high.

Due to the fact that a movable contact member of the assembly is a sphere or ball, the movable contact member has substantially point contact and the ball has an infinite number of contact points available.

The single point contact of the ball member has high impact pressure and is thus capable of easily penetrating oxide formations or foreign matter on the contact surfaces.

Due to the fact that the inner shell 24 separates the operating coil 34 from the magnet core 12, the shell 24 serves as shielding means against demagnetization of the core 24 by magnetomotive forces established by the coil.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has I been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

.1. Switch mechanism comprising a magnetizable base member, a magnetized core attached to the base member and extending therefrom, the core having an end portion of reduced dimension and integral therewith disposed in spaced relation from the base member and of a given polarity, a pair of spaced-apart magnetizable shell members, each of the shell members having a portion adjacent the base member and electrically insulated from the base member, a coil of electric conductor material disposed intermediate the shell members for magnetization thereof, each of the shell members having a protuberant portion adjacent said end portion of the core, a spherical magnetizable member in engagement with said end portion of the core and engageable with each of said protuberant portions of the shell members.

2. An electric switch mechanism comprising a magnetizable base, an elongate core member having one end portion thereof attached to the base, the opposite portion of the core member having a tapered end, the core member extending normally from the base at substantially the center thereof, the core member being permanently magnetized with a north pole at one end thereof and a south pole at the other end thereof, a sheet of electrical insulator material encompassing the core member and engaging the base, an inner shell open at both ends thereof and encompassing the core in spaced relation therefrom, the inner shell having an end in engagement with the sheet of insulator material and an opposite end provided with a protuberance extending to a position adjacent the tapered end of the core member, an outer shell open at both ends thereof and encompassing the inner shell in spaced relation therefrom, the outer shell having an end in engagement with the sheet of insulator material and an opposite end provided with a protuberance extending to a position adjacent the tapered end of the core member, a coil of electric conductor material disposed intermediate the shells, a spherical magnetizable member in engagement with the tapered end of the core member and engageable with each of the protuberances, electric conductor means connected to the coil, electric conductor means connected to the outer shell, electric conductor means connected to the inner shell and electric conductor means connected to the core member.

3. Electric switch mechanism comprising a magnetizable base member, a pair of spaced-apart magnetizable substantially cylindrical shell members joined in a magnetic circuit with the base member, each of the shell members having an extending contact portion, the contact portions being in spaced relation, a coil of electric conductor material disposed intermediate the shell members for magnetization thereof, a magnet core coaxial with the shell members and joined in a magnetic circuit with the base member, the magnet core having an extendingterminal portion adjacent the contact portions of the shell members, a spherical magnetizable member magnetically held in engagement with the terminal portion of the core, the spherical member also being engageable with the contact portion of either of the shell members.

4. Electrical circuit switching mechanism comprising magnetizable base means, a plurality of magnetizable shell members electrically separated one from the other and in a magnetic circuit with the base means, electric coil means disposed adjacent the shell members and co-- axial therewith for magnetization thereof, each of the shell members having an engagement portion of reduced dimensions, the engagement portions being in spacedapart relation, magnetizable core means attached to the base means, the core means having a reduced portion extending to a position adjacent the engagement portions of the shell members, and magnetizable roller means in engagement with the reduced portion of the core means and movably engageable with the engagement portions of the shell members.

5. A single pole double throw electromagnetic switch mechanism comprising a circular base of magnetizable material, an elongate magnetized core, the core having a north pole at one end thereof and a south pole at the other end thereof, one end of the core being firmly attached to the base, the core thus having an extending magnetically polarized end in spaced relation from the base, the magnetically polarized end of the core being of reduced dimensions, a spherical ball of magnetizable material magnetically retained in engagement with said extending polarized end of the core, a thin sheet of electrical insulator material in engagement with the base and encompassing the core, a first hollow cylinder of magnetizable material encompassing the core, the first hollow cylinder being open at both ends thereof, one end of the first cylinder being in engagement with the sheet of insulator material, the other end of the first cylinder having a protuberance of reduced dimensions extending to a position adjacent said ball, the ball being engageable with the protuberance of the first cylinder while the ball is also in engagement with the core, an operating coil encircling the first cylinder, a second hollow cylinder open at both ends thereof, the second cylinder encompassing the operating coil, the second cylinder having one end thereof in engagement with the sheet of insulator material, the other end of the second cylinder having a protuberance of reduced dimensions extending to a position adjacent said ball, the ball being engageable with the protuberance of either cylinder while the ball is also in engagement with the core, and means for connecting the operating coil to a source of electrical energy the polarity of which may be controlled, and electric conductor means connected to the core and to the cylinders.

6. Electric switch mechanism comprising an inner magnetizable shell and an outer magnetizable shell, an operating coil disposed intermediate the shells, the shells being electrically separated but so juxtapositioned that magnetic flux can flow between the shells when the coil is energized, a magnetized core forming a magnetic circuit with the shells, the core having a protuberant portion, a roller member magnetically retained in engagement with the core, each of the shells having a protuberant portion extending to a position adjacent the roller member, the roller member being engageable with the protuberant portion of either of the shells while remaining in engagement with the protuberant portion of the core.

7. A switch assembly comprising a permanent magnet, a plurality of magnetizable members electrically separated one from the other and from the permanent magnet, each of the magnetizable members having a protuberant engagement portion, the magnetizable members being in juxtaposition with the permanent magnet and forming 6 magnetic circuits with the permanent magnet, there being an air gap between a portion of the permanent magnet and said protuberant engagement portions of the magnetizable members, a spherical magnetizable member positioned in the air gap and magnetically retained in engagement with the permanent magnet, the spherical member being movable within the air gap to engage either of the magnetizable members while remaining in engagement with the permanent magnet, operating coil means adjacent the magnetizable members and coaxial therewith for controllingmagnetizati'on thereof, and electric conductor means'attaclied to the permanent'magnet and to the" magnetizablemembers.

8. Switch mechanism comprising a plurality of hollow cylindrical magnetizable members concentric one with the other, the members being electrically separated, means magnetically joining the members, a permanent magnet concentric with the cylindrical members and attached to said means, the magnet having a reduced portion, each of the cylindrical members having a protuberance extending to a position adjacent the reduced portion of the magnet so that an air gap exists between said reduced portion of the magnet and the protuberance of each cylindrical member, roller means disposed within said air gap and magnetically held in engagement with the reduced portion of the magnet, the roller means being movable to engage the protuberance of each cylindrical member, electrical coil means adjacent the cylindrical members and coaxial therewith for magnetization thereof, and electrical conductor means connected to the magnet and to the cylindrical members.

9. Electric switch mechanism including a permanent magnet, an operating coil coaxial with the magnet and in spaced relation therefrom, shielding means intermediate the coil and the magnet for shielding the magnet against demagnetization caused by magnetomotive forces established by the coil, the magnet having an extending portion of reduced dimensions, a spherical magnetizable member in engagement with said portion of the magnet, a plurality of magnetizable abutment members adjacent the spherical member and magnetizable by the coil, the spherical member being engageable with any one of the abutment members while the spherical member remains in engagement with the magnet, and electric conductor means connected to the abutment members and to the magnet.

10. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of concentric electrically separated hollow cylindrical magnetizable members, a magnetizable base magnetically joining: the members, an elongate magnet core firmly attached to the base and extending normally therefrom and concentric With said members, a magnetizable ball in engagement with the core at an end thereof, each of the cylindrical members having a substantially radial protuberance extending to a position adjacent the ball, each radial protuberance having an arcuate surface concentric with the core, the ball being engageable with the protuberance of either cylindrical member while the ball remains in engagement with the core, and an operating coil member concentric with the cylindrical members and disposed intermediate the cylindrical members.

11.. Electric switch mechanism comprising an inner magnetizable member, an outer magnetizable member, an operating coil disposed intermediate the magnetizable members, the magnetizable members being electrically separated but so positioned that magnetic flux can flow therebetween when the coils are energized, a permanent magnet body coaxial with the magnetizable members and forming a magnetic circuit with the magnetizable members, each of the magnetizable members and the permanent magnet body having an extending portion, all of the extending portions being in juxtaposition with an airgap separating the extending portions, a roller member within the airgap and in engagement with the extending portion of the permanent magnet body and engageable the extending end portion of the permanent magnet and cngageable with the extending portion of either of the magnetizable members, and electrical conductor means connected to the permanent magnet and to the magnet- 6 izable members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,369,296 Irvin et al. Feb. 13, 1945 2,488,928 Packard Nov. 22, 1949 2,732,458 Buckingham Jan. 24, 1956 2,833,882 Valehrach May 6, 1958

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