US2904661A

US2904661A - Impulse switch mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2904661A
Application number: US690657A
Authority: US
Inventors: John O Roeser
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 1957-10-17
Filing date: 1957-10-17
Publication date: 1959-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1976-09-15
Also published as: GB893139A; FR1203348A; DE1119951B

Description

Sept. l5, 1959 .1.0. RoEsER IMPULSE SWITCH MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed oct. 1'?, 1957 14 '43 1NVENTOR. 55 f/2m jzjoef .50 BY /46 53 Sept. 15, 1959 J. o. RoEsER IMPULSE SWITCH MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vFiled Oct. 17, 1957 INVENTOR. zwasef 'iinited States Patent O 1MPULSE SWITCH MECHANISM John 0. Roeser, Park Ridge, lll., assignor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 17, 1957, Serial No. 690,657 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-160) This invention is concerned generally with the art of electrical switches and more particularly with a device for momentarily operating a switch. As is well known, the circuitry of even the simplest automated equipment is quite complex. Generally, there are two or more relays required for each operation. It has been found that many of the relays in automation equipment could be eliminated if a means could be provided to `give a single impulse to initiate the next operation. The present device is capable of effecting such a single impulse.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a switch-operating mechanism wherein a switch is momentarily closed, and then opened, to give a single impulse upon movement of an actuator in one direction, reverse movement of the actuator having no effect on the switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switchoperating mechanism wherein depression of a plunger in a given direction first effects movement of a switch actuator in the same direction, and then releases the switch actuator, opposite movement of said plunger having no effect on said switch actuator.

Other objects of this invention are to provide animpulse-type switch operator which is rugged and long'- lived, which requires no critical tolerances, and which is simple and economical to fabricate.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side view of a switch incorporating the mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the switch operator as taken along the lines 3--3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a slightly different position of operation;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing th parts in a subsequent position of operation;

Fig. 6 is another similar view showing the parts in yet a later position of operation;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through the operator as taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a similar cross-sectional view, but taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Referring now in greater particularity to the drawings, and iirst to Figs. l and 2, there will be seen a switch casing 10 incorporating a switch 12 of known construction and having an actuator 14. As will be understood, whenever the actuator 14 is depressed, the switch is closed. The switch remains closed until the actuator 14 is released, and the spring-loaded actuator 14 then rises and the switch opens. A conduit 16 is connected to the casing or housing 10 for connecting wires to the switch, and an operator 18 is provided on top of the casing or housing.

The construction of the operator forms the novel subject matter of this invention, and the structure thereof may be seen with reference to Fig. 3. 'Ilhe switch operator 18 includes a bushing 20 having a peripheral flange 22 at its lower end fitting within an aperture 24 in the top of the switch housing or case 10. A nut 26 is threaded on the bushing above the flange 22 to clamp the bushing in place. The bushing is provided with an axial bore having a relatively large diameter, as at 28, extending throughout most of the length of the bushing. The upper portion of the bushing has a smaller bore, as indicated at 30, and this joins the larger bore diameter at an oblique shoulder 32.

A spring-reaction base 34 is mounted within the bottom end of the bushing 20, and includes a hollow, upstanding cylindrical portion 36 having a wall 38 at the upper end thereof. The wall is provided with a central aperture 40. The cylindrical portion 36 has a shoulder at its lower end 42, joining an enlarged portion received within the larger bore 28 of the bushing. The enlarged portion 44 is provided with a radially extending circumferential flange 46 underlying the ange 22 of the bushing, and the anges preferably are welded together.

A flexible diaphragm 48 extends across the bottom of the reaction base 34, closing the cylindrical bore 50 therein. A washer 52 of rather large internal diameter underlies and reinforces the diaphragm 48. As will be apparent, the diaphragm 48 rests against the top end of the actuator 14.

An external cap 54 of cylindrical coniiguration is mounted for a snug sliding t in the smaller diameter bore 30 of the bushing 20. The cap is closed at the upper end, as at 56, and an O-ring 58 is provided in a circumferential groove 60 adjacent the top of the cap to limit downward movement of the cap in the bushing. The cap is provided with an enlarged section or skirt 62 at itsv lower end, joined to the remainder of the cap by an oblique shoulder 64 complementary to the shoulder 32. The skirt 62 fits rather loosely within the large diameter bore 28. The cap 54 is hollow, having a central bore 66 extending substantially throughout its length, and having the skirt 56 provided with -an enlarged counterbore 68 joined to the main bore by an oblique shoulder 70.

The cap 54 is normally held in the raised position shown in Fig. 3 by a helical spring 72 compressed below the bottom end of the skirt 62 at 74, and the shoulder 42 on the spring-reaction base 34. The helical spring encircles the upstanding cylindrical part 36 of the springreaction base, as will be apparent.

A thimble 76 is received for reciprocation within the lbore 66 of the cap 514, and comprises generally a tubular body 78 having a top wall 80. The top wall is provided with a central bore 82 to permit free passage of air thereby to prevent compression of air in the bore 66 above the thimble during operation of the operator, as hereinafter to be set forth. The tubular body 78 is provided at the lower end thereof with a radially inwardly directed ange 84 having an internal oblique shoulder 86. The tubular body 78 of the thimble 76 is provided with a plurality of radial apertures 88 which are in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the thimble. Balls 90 are received in these apertures.

A hollow cup 92 is mounted for reciprocation within the lthimble 76, and is provided with an integral, depending push rod 94 joined thereto by an oblique shoulder 96 complementary to the shoulder 86 of the thimble 76. The lower end of the push rod 94 extends to a position spaced slightly above the diaphragm 48. An O-ring 98 is received in a circumferential groove 100 adjacent the lower end of the push rod to limit upward movement thereof by impingemcnt against the wall 38 of the springreaction base in the vicinity of the aperture 40 through which the push rod extends.

A helical spring 102 encircles the push rod 94, and is compressed between the wall 38 of the spring-reaction The

springs

72, 102,V and 104,normally hold .theparts inthevposition4 shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the cup 92 holds .theballs 90extending outwardly from their apertures 88, and beneath the oblique shoulder 70, of the capk54. Thus, if thecap 54 is pushed down, asin Fig. 4, the` shoulder 70i bears. on the ballsl 90..and forces the balls, and hencethe thimble 76, down. The spring 1 04 causes the push rod 94 to move down along withthe thimble 7 6.- The bottom of the push rod then engages the diaphragm-48 and deects itv downwardly. Such downwarddeection of the diaphragm depresses the switch actuator 14 and, causesfthe switch to be, .closed. Upon continued downward movement of the cap 54, the'balls 90 slide along the outer surface of the cup 92 (the cup and pushl rod being limited against further downward movement by the diaphragm 48) until the balls `reach the shoulder 96. At this time, the balls are no longer held radially outwardly, and the oblique shoulder 70l of the cap cams the, balls in beneath the shoulder 96. and against the push rod 94.

Thus, thethimble. 76`v is no Vlonger held down by .engagement ofthe shoulder 70 against the balls 90, and the spring 102 raises the thimble 76. Sincey the balls 90v now underlie Vthe shoulder 96 of the cup and pushl rod, the cup and push rod are raised with the thimble 76 until they reach an upward limited positionl determined by impingement of the O-ring 98 against the underside ofthe top wall 38 of the spring-reaction base.

Further-downward movement of the cap 54 has n0 effect on the other parts since the balls 90 simply slide along the inside of the bore 66 of the cap. Final downward movement of the cap is limited by the O-ring 58- which impinges against the top of the bushing 20. When the cap is released, the spring 72 raises the cap to the limited position shown in Fig. 3. Since the balls now have room to move out beneath the shoulder 70, the spring 104 forces the cup and push rod down, the oblique shoulders 96 camming the balls 90 out to their initial position, as shown in Fig. 3. As will be apparent, the upward return of the partshas no eiect onthe switch actuator 14 once the push rod 4has moved upwardly, as between Figs. and 6.

It is to be understood lthat the speciticexample of thev invention as herein shown and described is for illustrative, purposes only. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and are to beunderstood as forming a part of the invention insofaras they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims,

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. In combination with a switch having a housingand an -actuating member movable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closing said switch comprising guide means fixed relative to said-housing, a plunger reciprocable along` said guide means, spring means acting on said plunger and resiliently urging said plunger in a given direction, a memberrreciprocable along said guide means'and operatively engageable with said switch-actuating member, spring means acting on said reciprocable member and resiliently urging saidrreciprocable member in the same given direction, one way coupling means I, coupling said reciprocable` member to said plunger upon` movement of said plunger opposite to saidgiven direction, said coupling means being ineffective upon movement of said plunger in saidgiven direction, means arresting said reciprocable-memberafter movernentioflv said actuating member a limited distance thereby, and

, 4 y means, .effective 11110.11. .SllQhrreSting of, saidl reciprocable member to render said coupling means ineffective, whereby said reciprocable member is returned in said given direction by the spring means acting thereon independently of return of said plunger, said plunger subsequently being returned in said given direction by the spring means acting thereon. v i

2. In combinationwith asn/ itch having a housing and an actuating member movable a limited distance, mechanism for mentaliteit-ily closing.. Said Switch. Comprising guide .meansf flaredv relative. tosaid .-housing, ahollow plunger.;resrroablejn. Saideuidemeane Spring means acting" on said plunger and resiliently urging said plunger in a given direction,arnemberreciprocably mounted within said plunger and reciprocable relative thereto, said reciprocable member being operatively engageable with said switch-actuating member, spring means acting on Vsaid reciprocable member and resiliently urging said reciprocable member in the. sameV givenl direction, one-way coupling. means .coupling said reciprocable member to said plungeruponmovementk of said plunger opposite to said given direction, saidcoupling means being ineffective upon movement of-said plunger in said given direction, means arresting said reciprocable member after movement ofsaid actuating member a limited distance thereby, and-means effectiveupon such arresting of said reciprocable,` member ton render said coupling means ineiective, whereby said reciprocable member is returned in said-given direction by the spring means acting thereon, said v'plunger Ysubsequently being returned in said given directionrby the spring means acting thereon.

3; In combination with' a switch having a housing and an actuating member movable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closing said switch comprising guide means iixed relative to said housing, a plunger reciprocable along said guide means, spring means acting Von said plunger and resiliently urging said plunger in a given direction, a member reciprocable along said guide means and operatively engageablewith said sWitch-actuating member,`spring means acting 0n said reciprocable memberand resiliently urging .said reciprocable member in the same given direction, actuating spring means urging said reciprocable memberin theopposite direction, one- Way couplingmeans coupling said actuating spring Vmeans to said plunger upon movement of said plunger opposite to said given direction, said coupling means being ineffective up-on, movementofsaid plunger in Said given direction, meanst arresting said reciprocable member after movement of said actuating membera limited distance thereby, said lactuating spring means thereupon deforming, and means etfective. upon such arresting of said reciprocablezmember to render said coupling means inelective whereby said reciprocal)le member is returned in said given direction by the spring means acting thereon independently of returnof saidplunger, said yplunger subsesiueutlyfbeingreturned, inrsaid giver directiva by the spring means acting thereon.

4 lncumbinatioa. `with @switch having@ Ahousing and an actuating membermovablea limited`- distance, mechallrrlV fory momentarily closing said switch comprising guide means xed relative to said housing, a hollow plunger reciprocable. in said guide means, spring -means acting on. said -plungerand .resilientlyurging said plunger in a given direction, a member reciprocably mounted within said plunger and reciprocable relative thereto and operatively engageablerwithvsaid switch-actuating member, spring means actingpn said reciprocableA member and resiliently urgilsaisi.reiprgqablev member. in the Samegiveadirectipm .Spring Within Said plunger. biasingaid reciprocable member in the oppositedirection relatir. tosaid plunger. ous-wav Crawling` means ,coupling Said .spring )linens` in. @Said .plunger to :Said plunger upon nipvement ofA said plungeroppositeto said given direction, said coupling means being ineffective upon movement of said plunger in said given direction, means arresting said reciprocable member after movement of said actuating member a limited distance thereby, said reciprocable member thereby moving relative to said plunger in said given direction against the spring means in said plunger, and means effective upon such arresting of said reciprocable member and such relative movement of said reciprocable member to render said coupling means ineffective, whereby said reciprocable member is returned in said given direction by the spring means acting thereon, said plunger subsequently being returned in said given direction by the spring means acting thereon.

5 In combination =with a switch having a housing and an actuating member movable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closing said switch comprising guide means fixed relative to said housing, a plunger reciprocable along said guide means, spring means acting on said plunger and resiliently urging said plunger in a given direction, an operating member reciprocable along said means and operatively engageable with said switchactuating member, an intermediate member reciprocable along said guide means, spring means acting on said intermediate member and resiliently urging said intermediate member in said given direction, spring means acting between said operating member and said intermediate member for urging said intermediate member in said given direction, shiftable coupling means associated with said intermediate member and effective upon movement of said plunger in the opposite direction relative to the spring biasing thereof to couple said plunger to said intermediate member whereby to shift said intermediate member with said plunger, and resiliently to shift said operating member, said operating member being arrested upon movement thereby of said actuating member through said limited distance, means effective upon such arresting of said operating member to release said coupling means from said plunger, and to couple said intermediate member to said operating member whereby the spring means operating on the intermediate member returns said intermediate member in said given direction and said intermediate member returns said operating member in said given direction, continued movement of said plunger in said opposite direction being ineifective to thereafter produce movement of said other members, and said plunger subsequently being returned in said given direction by the spring means acting thereon.

6. A mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plunger is hollow, the intermediate member is hollow and is received within the plunger, the operating member is received within the intermediate member, and the spring means acting between the intermediate member and the operating member is received within the intermediate member.

7. In combination with a switch having a housing and an actuating member movable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closing said switch comprising a tubular guide fixed relative to said housing, a tubular plunger reciprocable in said guide, a spring-reaction base fixed relative to said tubular guide, spring means received in said tubular guide and lacting between said reaction base and said plunger to urge said plunger outwardly of said guide, an intermediate tubular member reciprocable within said tubular plunger, spring means acting between said reaction base and said intermediate member and urging said intermediate member in the same direction as said plunger, an operating member received within said .tubular intermediate member `and operatively engageable with said actuating member, spring means within said tubular intermediate member and acting between said intermediate member and said actuating mem-- ber, shiftable coupling means associated with said intermediate member, and means effecting shifting of said coupling means whereby upon movement of said plunger in the direction opposite to that which it is urged by the spring means associated therewith the coupling means couples the intermediate member to the plunger for movement therewith, said operating member thereby being resiliently moved in the same direction and thereby moving said actuating member through said limited distance, said operating member thereafter being arrested, said shiftable coupling means thereupon shifting from said plunger to said operating member whereby to free said plunger from said intermediate member and to couple said intermediate member to said operating member, the spring means acting on said intermediate member thereby returning said intermediate member in said given direction and said operating member being returned therewith, further movement of said plunger in said opposite direction having no effect on said intermediate and operating members, said plunger thereafter being returned in said given direction by the spring means acting thereon.

8. Mechanism as set forth -in claim 7 wherein the shiftable coupling means comprises a plurality of balls received in radial apertures in said intermediate tubular member and radially shif-table between said plunger and said operating member.

9. In combination with a switch having a housing and an `actuating member movable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closing said switch, comprising a tubular guide fixed to said housing adjacent said actuating member and extending outwardly from said housing, a tubular plunger received within said guide and reciprocable therein, said plunger and Isaid guide having a complementary means thereon limiting outward movement of said plunger, a spring-reaction base within said tubular guide adjacent the end proximate to said housing, spring means acting between said reaction base and said plunger and urging said plunger outwardly of said guide, a thimble reciprocably mounted within said plunger, said thimble having a plurality of radial apertures, a plurality of balls respectively received within said apertures, downwardly directed oblique shoulder means on said plunger adap-ted to exert a downward force on said balls, spring means acting between said reaction base and said thimble and urging said thimble outwardly into said plunger, said thimble having radially inwardly directed stop means at the end oriented toward said housing, an operating member operatively engageable with said actuating member and reciprocably received within said thimble, said operating member having means providing downwardly and outwardly directed oblique shoulder means and a cylindrical wall received within said thimble and disposed outwardly away from said housing relative to said shoulder means, and `spring means received within said thimble and acting between said thimble and said operating member, depression of said plunger causing the oblique shoulder means thereof to -bear against said balls whereby to shift said thimble toward said housing, said thimble acting through the spring means housed therein resiliently to urge said operating member operatively against said actuating member to effect movement of said actuating member, said operating member being arrested following limited movement of said actuating member and said thimble thereafter moving relative to `said operating member until said balls reach the oblique shoulder means of said operating member, whereby said balls are cammed inwardly by the oblique shoulder means of said plunger and release said thimble from said plunger, simultaneously coupling said thimble to said operating member, said thimble and said operating member thereby being urged outwardly of said housing by the spring means acting between said thimble and said reaction base, further depression of said plunger having no eect on said thimble and said operating member, said operating member Subsequently being returned to its initial limited position by the spring means acting between said operating member and said reaction base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,616,009 Roeser Oct. 28, 1952