US3019322A

US3019322A - Double throw co-axial switch

Info

Publication number: US3019322A
Application number: US5777A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald H Lanctot
Original assignee: DON LAN ELECTRONICS Inc
Current assignee: DON LAN ELECTRONICS Inc
Priority date: 1960-02-01
Filing date: 1960-02-01
Publication date: 1962-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1979-01-30
Also published as: GB908545A

Description

Jan. 30, 1962 D. H. LANCTOT DOUBLE THROW'CO-AXIAL swrrcn Filed Feb. 1. 1960 FIG. 2

INVENTOR DONALD H. LANCTOT ATTORNEYS United States Patent:

3,019,322 DOUBLE THROW CO-AXIAL SWITCH Donald H. Lanctot, Malibu, Caiif., assignor to Don-Lan Electronics, Inc., a corporation of California Filed Feb. 1, 1960, Ser. No.5,777 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) This invention relates to high frequency components and more particularly to an improved co-axial switch for transferring elcctro-magnetic energy from an input connection between two or more output connections.

With the increasing capabilities of missiles and the like employing radar and fire control systems, components making up the equipment are subject to more severe environmental conditions than ever before. In the case of switches, it is of paramount importance that the switch be capable of reliable operation under all such environmental conditions. One such condition results from the enormous accelerations and decelerations to which the missile is subject. To provide reliable movable switching components which can operate under such high g loadings requires novel design approaches.

In addition to the foregoing, space and weight are at a premium in any air borne equipment and thus switches for certain desired functions must also be designed with a view to extreme miniaturization.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved co-axial switching unit for transferring electro-magnetic energy from a single input connector between first and second output connectors.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a switch meeting the above object in which the movable components thereof are capable of reliable operation under high g loadings, vibrations, sudden shocks and impacts, and the like. I

Still another important object is to provide a co-axial switch of extremely compact design and which is capable of operation from remote locations.

Briefly, these and other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing a conducting switch body which serves to electrically connect the outer conductors of an input connector and first and second output connectors. The inner conductors of the first and second output connectors terminate within the body in opposed spaced contact ends. The inner conductor of the input connector in turn terminates in a pivoted contacting means in the form of a block' structure. The block includes a contacting portion extending laterally therefrom to a position between the first and second contacts of the first and second inner conductors of the output connectors. An actuating means is incorporated in the body and arranged to rock or pivot the block such as to disengage the contact means thereof from one of the output connectors and connect, it to the other of the output connectors. The block together witlrthe contacting means is dynamically balanced about its pivot axis so that large accelerations or decelerations will exert no torques on the contacting means and switching will only take place when the actuating means is intentionally encrgizcd.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an overall perspective view of the improved co-axlal switch of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken generally in the dircction of the arrows of 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the movable components in first, actuated condition for passing energy from the input connector to one of the output connectors; and,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating the movable components in a second position for transferring energy from the input connector to the other of the output connectors.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 there is shown a switch body 10 having an input co-axial connector 11 and first and second

output co-axiai connectors

12 and 13, the latter two connectors extending into opposite sides of the switch body. The body 10 is made of conducting material and thus connects all of the outer conductors of the various co-axial connectors electrically together.

Surmounting the body 10 is a housing 14 for a suitable actuating means arranged to be energized by input leads 15 from a remote location. Energy passing into the input connector 11 may thus be passed from either the first output connector 12 or the second output connector 13 depending upon whether or not the actuating means within the housing 14 i energized.

Referring now to the cross section of FIGURE 2, the respective inner conductors for the

output co-axial connectors

12 and 13 are shown at 16 and 17 extending into the body and terminating in opposed axially spaced

contact ends

18 and 19 respectively. The inner or center conductor for the input connector 11 is shown'in cross section at 20 and terminates within the body in a pivoted block member 21. The pivot axis for the block member 21 is co-incident with the axis of the inner conductor 20 and is designated A in both FIGURES l and 2. The pivot for the block itself may be secured to the inner end wall of the switch body 10. The block 21 includes first and second

engaging surfaces

22 and 23. These surfaces are disposed with respect to each other such that their normals will pass on either side of the pivot axis A and thus bearing pressure on either one surface or the other will cause a rotation of the block in one direction or the other.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the block includes a contacting means in the form of a flexible contact reed 24 extending normally from the pivot axis A to a position between the first and second contact ends 18 and 19 of the

inner conductors

16 and 17. An actuating means in the form of a plunger 25 terminates at its upper end in end plate 26 and has its lower end in engagement with the first engaging surface 22 of the block 21. This plunger is arranged to be actuated to move in an up and down direction by electro-magnetic coils 27 encircling a guiding core 28 all within the housing 14. In the position shown in FIGURE 2, the coils are shown in their energized condition so that the plunger 25 is bearing against the surface 22 to rotate the block member 21 in a clockwise direction and thus cause engagement of the flexible contact reed 24 with the inner contactingend 19 of the inner conductor 17.

A restoring means in the form of a rod. member 29 has its lower end in engagement with the surface 23 of the block 21 and is biased against this surface by a compression spring 30 within an off-set housing 31. By this arrangement, when the electro-magnetic coils are not energized, the. restoring rod. member 29 will rotate the block 21 in a counter clockwise directionto'elfect electrical connection between the contacting reed 24 and contact end 18 of the inner conductor 16. This latter position of the movable components is illustrated in FIG- URE 3.

In the actual construction of the device as described with respect to FIGURES 2 and 3, the block member 21 and flexible contacting reed 24 are dynamically balanced with respect to the pivot axis A. Thus no movement of the block will take place under accelerating or decelerating forces or even under shocks or impacts. Further reliability is insured by making the block 21 and reed 24 of extremely light mass. The force exerted by the compression spring 30 for the restoring member -29 and the force exerted by the plunger when the electromagnetic coils are energized, are far greater than would ordinarily be necessary to rotate the small mass of the block and reed. Thus, when the block and reed are in one position or the other such as illustrated in FIGURE 2 or in FIG- URE 3 they are held in such position with considerable force.

The overall operation of the device will be evident from the foregoing description. Energy is initially fed into the input connector 11. When the electro-magnet'ic coils 27 are unenergized, the components are in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 and energy passing into the input connector 11 will be passed out of the output connector 12 through the medium of the block 21 and flexible contacting reed 24. When it is desired to terminate passage of energy from the output connector 12 and instead pass it through the output connector 13, the electromagnetic coils 27 are energized by a suitable signal on the input leads shown in FIGURE 1. Energization of these coils will then move the plunger 25 to the position shown in FIGURE 2 to cause a clockwise rotation of the block member 21. The second engaging surface 23 during execution of this movement will retract the restoring rod member 29 against the force of the compression spring 30.

The degree of rotative movement of the block and reed in a clockwise direction is checked by engagement of the underside of the top end plate 26 of the plunger against the magnetic structure of the core and casing 14. This degree of rotation however is made slightly greater than necessary to cause the contacting reed 24 to touch the contact end 19. Thus, the reed will be flexed slightly and a pressure contact will result insuring excellent electrical continuity. Similarly, when the components are in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 in which the coils 27 are unenergized, the engagement of the top end 26 of the plunger with the top cover of the housing 14 will check the counter-clockwise rotative movement to a position slightly beyond that necessary to cause flexible contact reed 24 to engage the contacting end 18. Thus a flexing of the reed in the other direction will occur to insure a pressure contact.

In both positions, because of the relatively large forces exerted by the spring or by the electro-magnetic coils as the case may be, the particular connection established is firmly held. It should also be noted that movement of the reed end of only a few mils is necessary to change from one connection to the other and this movement is multiplied through the lever arm determined by the length of the reed 24 as compared to the distance between the point of contacts on the engaging surfaces of the block and the pivot axis A. Thus movement of the plunger or of the restoring member are respectively even less than the movement of the end of the flexible reed. This feature coupled with the extremely small mass and dynamic balancing of the structure enables extremely rapid switching to take place.

It will also be evident from the foregoing that by bringing the input connector into the switch body at right angles to the two output connectors, the overall outside dimensions of the entire structure are minimized and maximum space is conserved.

Various modifications that fall clearly within the scope and spirit of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The double throw co-axial switch is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the specific embodiment set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

l. A double throw co-axial switch comprising: a switch body having an input connector and first and second output connectors; a contact means connected to said input connector, said contact means comprising a block member mounted for pivoting movement about a given pivot axis co-axial with said input connector within said body and including a flexible reed positioned to engage said first output connector when in a first position and to disengage said first output connector and engage said second output connector when pivoted to a second position, said block and reed being dimensioned for dynamic balancing with respect to said given pivot axis; and means for pivoting said contact means between said first and second positions.

2. A double throw co-axial switch, comprising: a switch body having an input connector and first and second output connectors, said first and second output connectors having first and second inner conductors terminating in first and second contact ends within said body in opposed, axially spaced relationship and said input connector having an inner conductor terminating in a pivoted block; a flexible contact reed having a fixed end secured to said block and a free end extending normally from the pivot axis of said block to a position between said contact ends, said block having first and second engaging surfaces, the normals to said surfaces passing on opposite sides of said pivot axis; an actuating means in said body adapted to bear against said first surface upon actuation to rotate said block about said pivot axis in a first direction; and a biased restoring means engaging said second surface to bias said block to rotate about said pivot axis in a direction opposite to said first direction, whereby the free end of said contact reed is normally held in engagement with said first contact end and moved out of engagement with said first contact end and into engagement with said second contact end upon actuation of said actu' ating means.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 in which said pivoted block and said flexible contact reed are dynamically balanced with respect to said pivot axis.

4. The subject matter of claim 3, in which said actuating means comprises a plunger; and electro-magnetic coils surrounding said plunger to move said plunger against said first surface upon energization of said coils.

5. The subject matter of claim 4 in which the axis of said input connector is coincident with said pivot axis and lies in a plane normal to the axes of the inner conductors of said first and second output connectors.

Beleskas June 7, 1949 Shunemann Nov. 23, 1954