US2892059A

US2892059A - Operating mechanism for electric switches

Info

Publication number: US2892059A
Application number: US726246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph A Keirans
Original assignee: Essex Wire Corp
Current assignee: Essex Wire Corp
Priority date: 1958-04-03
Filing date: 1958-04-03
Publication date: 1959-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-23

Description

J. A KEIRANS OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed April 3, 1958 June 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR n 3, 1959 J. A. KEIRANS 7 2,892,059

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC swrrcmas Filed April 3, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet '2 II. [Es-.5

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35 r kl/Z INVENTOR Josm/ A KE/RANS WEN AGENT June 23, 1959 J.'A. KEIRANS ,8

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed Ap ril a, 1958 i s Sheets-Sheet l/vve/vroe J 05ml 4. Kama/vs AGENT United States Patent OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Joseph A. Keirans, Logansport, Ind., 'assign'or to Essex Wire Corporation, Fort Wayne, Ind.

.Application April 3, 1958, Serial No. 726,246

Claims. (Cl. 200-105) This invention relates'to electric switches and, more particularly to the construction of operating mechanisms for electric switches. As described, the invention is embodied in a switch wherein the reciprocal movement of the operating member causes rotary movement of a contact bridging member. However, the invention is applicable to other mechanisms of similar and related types as will become apparent.

The present invention has particular utility when adaptedto remotely controlled solenoid operated electric switches of the type known as sequence relays. Switches of this type may be employed in various types of control systems where it is desirable to selectively control a plurality of load circuits by intermittently energizing the sequence relay.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved operating mechanism for electrical switches.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement and construction for controlling the operation of a contact bridging member in a sequence rela Still another object of this. invention is to provide an operating mechanism for electrical switches of simple and sturdy design which is reliable in operation;

A further object of this invention is to provide an operating mechanism for an electrical switch including a contact bridging member rotatable upon reciprocal movement of a switch operating member which provides a positive driving movement of the contact bridging member and which prevents the contact bridging member from becoming disengaged from the fixed contacts of the switch except during driving movement of the contact bridging member.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electric switch having a contact bridging member sequentially rotated without axial movement thereof through a plurality of circuit controlling positions in response to reciprocal movement of a solenoid operated plunger.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: D

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one end of a device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the other end otthe device.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the indexing elements ofthe device, that is, the inner driver, the outer driver, and the carrier, shown disassembled but in their proper order of assembly.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the inner driver shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the outer driver shown in Figure 5.

2,892,059 Patented June 23, 1959 "ice Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the carrier shown in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a terminal plate taken from the plane indicated by the lines 99 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a plan view ofa contact plate.

Figures ll, 12, and 13 are diagrammatic showings of the inner driver, the outer driver, and the carrier illustrating the sequential operation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, there is showna relay embodying the invention and including a bracket 20 provided with a flange 22 by whichthe relay may be mounted. The bracket 20 is secured against the closed end of a cup-shaped-magnetizable housing 24 by a magnetizable pole piece 26 which has a reduced diameter portion 28 received in apertures 30 and 32, respectively, of the bracket 20 and the housing 24. The shoulder 34 of the pole piece 26 is secured against the'closed end of the housing 24 by the tangs 36 which are staked over against the bracket 20. Housing 24 is provided at its open end with a counter bore to provide a shoulder 38 for receiving magnetizable

end closure plates

40 and 42 secured against the shoulder 38 by riveting over a portion 44 of the housing 24. The

end plates

40 and 42 are centrally apertured to receive a non-magnetizable tube 46 which is supported by the pole piece 26 and the annular flange 47 of the end plate 42. A coil 48 is located within the housing 24 and has terminal leads 50 brought out through openings 52 in the'end

plates

40 and 42.

An armature 54 slidably mounted in tube 46 has a conical cavity to conform to the conical boss 58 of the pole piece 26. A ring 60 of non-magnetizable material is welded or brazed to the shoulder 62 of the pole piece 26 to prevent freezing of the armature 54 to the pole piece caused by the residual magnetism of the pole piece when the coil 48 is deenergized. A driving shaft 64 in the form of a rod of non-magnetic material slidably extends through an aperture 66 in the pole piece 26 and has one end threadably secured to the armature 54. The free end of the driving shaft 64 is slidably received in the bore 68 of a terminal block 70 formed of insulating material. Two studs 72 attached to the mounting bracket 20 are provided with shoulders 74 against which the terminal block 70 is secured by nuts 76. As best seen in Figures 2 and 9 the terminal block 70 carries the stationary contacts and'terminals of the relay. One of these contacts comprises a ring-shaped conductor 78 formed of a suitable conducting material such as brass and is secured to the terminal block 70 by three rivets 80. One of the rivets 80 also serves to hold a terminal 82 in position upon the opposite side of the terminal block 70 and to provide an electrical connection between the terminal 82 and the conductor 78. Six contact rivets 84 radially disposed about the conductor 78 have upset ends 86 serving to secure the terminals 88 to the terminal block 70.

A contact plate 90 formed from a suitable conducting materialsuch as brass is rotably driven by a carrier 92 which forms part of an operating mechanism for converting the reciprocal movement of the armature 54 into rotary movement. The face of the carrier 92 which is. located adjacent the terminal 70 is provided with three pockets or wells 96 and a cylindrical boss98 having three rectangular extensions 100 spaced apart. The contact plate 90 is provided with three spaced

contact elements

102, 104, and 106 pressed outwardly from one side to engage the ring-shaped conductor 78 and the contact rivets 84- on the terminal block 70. The

contacts

102 and 104 are urged against one of the contact rivets 84 by three springs 108, each of which has one end seated within. a carrier well 96and the opposite end engaging the contact plate 90 as shown in Figure 4. The contact plate 90 is also provided with an aperture 110 formed to receive and key the carrier boss 98 with a sliding fit. I

The operating mechanism for converting the reciprocal movement of the armature 54 into rotary movement includes in addition to the carrier 92 two other main elements, namely, the inner driver 112 and the outer driver 114. The carrier 92, the inner driver 112, and the outer driver 114 may be formed from a suitable material such as a phenoldzormaldehyde molding material. The carrier 92 includes a central opening 116 and a reduced diameter hub portion 118 having an end face 120 comprising a series of six ratchet teeth 122 circumferentially disposed about the opening 116. A similar series of six cam projections 124 providing a circular camming track 126 of hill and dale or notched contour is located at the base of the hub portion 118.

The inner driver 112 comprises a substantially cylindrical body having two longitudinal lugs 128 projecting radially outward therefrom and a central aperture 130 therein to receive the driving shaft 64. The face of the inner driver 112 adjacent the carrier 92 is formed with a series of six ratchet teeth 132 for interfitting relation with the six teeth 122 projecting from the carrier 92, each tooth 132 being complementally shaped to seat in a notch of the end face 120. The face of the inner driver 112 adjacent the pole piece 26 is provided with two grooves 134 for receiving the opposite ends of a transversely disposed pin 136 carried by the driving shaft 64. The inner driver 112 has a counterbore at the opposite face to provide a shoulder 138 for receiving a compression spring 140 disposed about the driving shaft 64 which reacts against the terminal block 70 to yieldingly maintain the

ratchet teeth

122 and 132 separated and to maintain the pin 136 in engagement with the grooves 134.

The outer driver 114 includes a central aperture 142 having two longitudinal recesses 144 diametrically disposed on the inner surface thereof to slidably receive and guide the inner driver 112. The outer driver 114 is provided with a circular camming track 146 having six cam projections 148 complementally shaped and dis posed for cooperative engagement with the camming track 126. The outer driver 114 also includes two notched extensions 150 which straddle the studs 72. A compression spring 152 confined between the extensions 150 and the mounting bracket 20 operates to maintain the outer driver 114 yieldingly in engagement with the carrier 92. This construction prevents rotation of the inner driver 112 and the outer driver 114 relative to each other or to the terminal block 70 while providing for longitudinal movement of the inner and outer drivers relative to each other and to the terminal block.

The operation of the relay is best seen with reference to Figures 11, 12, and 13 where the ratchet teeth and the cam projections of the carrier, the inner driver, and the outer driver have been shown projected upon a single plane to illustrate the relation of the cooperating parts. For further clarity of illustration, the ratchet teeth 122 and the cam projections 124 of the carrier 92 are shown projecting in opposite directions and disposed opposite, respectively, the ratchet teeth 132 of the inner driver 112 and the cam projections 148 of the outer driver 114. Figure 11 illustrates the relative position of the ratchet teeth and the cam projections when the coil 48 is deenergized as indicated in Figure 4. The inner driver 112 is displaced away from. the carrier 92 by spring 140 such that the

ratchet teeth

122 and 132 are separated. The outer driver 114 is biased toward the carrier 92 by spring 152 such that the cam.

projections

124 and 148 are engaged to retain the carrier 92 in a selected position relative to the terminal block 70. The thrust of the spring 152 against the outer driver 114 is transmitted to the carrier 92 to press the contact plate 90 against the terminal block 70. A circuit is thus complete from the terminal 82 to one of the terminals 88 through one of the rivets to the conductor 78, and then through the

contacts

102, 104, and 106 to one of the contact rivets 84.

Movement of the armature 54 toward the pole piece 26 upon energization of coil 48 urges the inner driver 112 against the carrier 92 in a straight line such that a portion of the inclined surface of each ratchet tooth 122 engages a portion of the similarly inclined surface of a ratchet tooth 132. As the longitudinal movement of the inner driver 112 continues, the ratchet teeth 122 slide upon the ratchet teeth 132 to rotate the carrier 92 about the driving shaft 64 and simultaneously drive the contact plate in the same direction. Upon rotation of the carrier 92, the cam projections 148 of the outer driver 114 are caused to ride up one side of the cam projections 124 to further compress the spring 152 and to move over the peaks as indicated in Figure 12.

When the coil 48 is deenergized, the spring urges the inner driver 112 away from the carrier 92 to disengage the

ratchet teeth

122 and 132. The carrier 92 is then free to rotate and the spring 152 urges the outer driver 114 toward the terminal block 70 in a straight line to drive the cam projections 148 down the inclined surfaces of the cam projections 124 and into seating engagement with the camming track 126 as shown in Figure 13. This causes a second rotary advancement of the carrier 92 with a corresponding movement of the contact plate 90 in the same direction to complete a circuit including the contact element 106 and a newly selected contact rivet 84. The cam projections 124 act as pawls to retain the carrier 92 in the selected position until the coil 48 is again energized. It is apparent the other contact rivets 84 will be sequentially engaged by the contact element 106 upon successive energizations of the coil 48.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferred embodiment and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the invention may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An operating mechanism comprising a rotatable first member having a series of ratchet teeth and a series of cam projections; a non-rotatable second member mounted for reciprocal movement and having a similar series of ratchet teeth adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the first member when the second member is moved toward the first member to rotate the first member; reciprocating means for the second member operable to alternately move the ratchet teeth of the second member into and out of engagement with the ratchet teeth of the first member; a non-rotatable third member mounted for reciprocal movement and having a similar series of cam projections adapted to engage the cam projections of the first member to cause further rotation of the first member when the second member is moved away from the first member; and spring means reacting against the third member to yieldably urge the cam projections of the third member into engagement with the cam projections of the first member.

2. An operating mechanism comprising a rotatable first member having a series of ratchet teeth arranged in a circular manner and a series of cam projections arranged concentrically about the series of ratchet teeth; a non rotatable second member mounted for reciprocal movement and having a similar series of ratchet teeth adapted for cooperative camming engagement with the ratchet teeth of the first member to rotate the first member in a predetermined direction when the second member is moved toward the first member; a non-rotatable third member mounted for reciprocal movement and having a similar series of cam projections adapted to engage the cam projections of the first member; a first spring reacting against the second member to yieldably urge the second member away from the first member; a second spring reacting against the third member to yieldably urge the cam projections of the third member into engagement with the cam projections of the first member; and the cam projections being disposed relative to the ratchet teeth such that rotation of the first member upon movement of the second member toward the first member cams the third member axially in a direction away from the first member whereby the second spring acting on the third member imparts a further rotation of the first member in said predetermined direction when the second member moves away from the first member.

3. In an electric switch, a plurality of fixed contacts; a contact carrier rotatable with respect to the fixed contacts and including a series of ratchet teeth and a series of cam projections; a contact plate driven by the carrier for engagement with the fixed contacts; a non-rotatable first driving member mounted for reciprocal movement and having a similar series of ratchet teeth adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the carrier when the first driving member is moved toward the carrier to rotate the carrier; operating means to move the first driving member toward the carrier; yieldable means reacting against the first driving member to cause a return movement of the first driving member after each movement thereof toward the carrier; a non-rotatable second driving member mounted for reciprocal movement and having a similar series of cam projections adapted to engage the cam projections of the carrier to cause further rotation of the carrier when the first driving member is moved away from the carrier; and spring means reacting against the second driving member to yieldably urge the cam projections of the second driving member into engagement with the cam projections of the carrier and to maintain the contact plate in engagement with the fixed contacts.

4. In an electrical switch; a terminal block having an aperture and carrying a plurality of fixed contacts; an electromagnet having a movable armature; a driving shaft connected to the armature and mounted for reciprocal movement in the aperture of the terminal block; a contact carrier rotatable about the driving shaft and including a series of ratchet teeth and a series of cam projections; a contact plate rotatable across the terminal block and driven by the carrier for selective engagement with the fixed contacts; an inner driver movable in straight line movement with the driving shaft and having a similar series of ratchet teeth adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the carrier when the inner driver is moved toward the carrier upon energization of the electromagnet; a first spring urging the inner driver away from the carrier; a non-rotatable outer driver having a keyed bore receiving the inner driver for axial sliding movement therein while preventing rotation of the inner driver; the outer driver being mounted for reciprocal movement and having a similar series of cam projections adapted to engage the cam projections of the carrier to cause further rotation of the carrier when the inner driver is moved away from the carrier by the first spring upon deenergization of the electromagnet; and a second spring reacting against the outer driver to yieldably urge the cam projections of the outer driver into engagement with the cam projections of the carrier and to maintain the contact plate in engagement with the fixed contacts.

5. In an electric switch, a rotatable contact carrier; non-rotatable first and second driving members mounted for reciprocal movement relative to each other and to the carrier; the carrier and the first driving member having cooperative cam surfaces; spring means urging the first driving member against the carrier; the carrier and the second driving member having cooperative cam surfaces adapted to rotate the carrier upon movement of the second driving member toward the carrier; reciprocating means for alternately moving the second driving member toward and away from the contact carrier; said rotation of the carrier acting to cam the first driving member away from the carrier; and the spring means being operative upon movement of the second driving member away from the carrier to move the first driving member axially into engagement with the carrier to further rotate the carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 701,627 Schreier et al. June 3, 1902 1,504,227 Gent Aug. 12, 1924 2,528,520 Jackson et a1 Nov. 7, 1950