US3154648A - Snap action switch mechanism - Google Patents
Snap action switch mechanism Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3154648A US3154648A US217397A US21739762A US3154648A US 3154648 A US3154648 A US 3154648A US 217397 A US217397 A US 217397A US 21739762 A US21739762 A US 21739762A US 3154648 A US3154648 A US 3154648A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- resiliently flexible
- flexible member
- contact
- base
- snap
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H5/00—Snap-action arrangements, i.e. in which during a single opening operation or a single closing operation energy is first stored and then released to produce or assist the contact movement
- H01H5/04—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
- H01H13/02—Details
- H01H13/26—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members
- H01H13/28—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members using compression or extension of coil springs
Definitions
- the invention consists in an electric switch comprising a contact, toggle means for deflecting the contact, movable means comprising a second contact for co-operating with the first and a back stop to limit the movement of the first contact away from the second.
- the toggle means can actually be switched to the con tact open position independently of the position of the toggle switch actuator.
- the back stop may be replaced if desired by a further contact.
- FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a switch according to the invention in the closed position.
- FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the open position.
- FIGURE 3 is an underneath View
- FIGURE 4 is a plan view.
- the switch comprises a toggle switch mechanism, the principal element of which is here shown as comprising a beryllium-copper alloy stamped strip 1, the shape of which is apparent from FIGURE 4. It is of generally rectangular shape with rounded corners at one end, the other end being an arc of a circle. The center part is cut away to form two tongues, a long one 1a projecting from the square end and a short one lb projecting from the circular end.
- the tongue 1a is formed with a window laa and two strengthening longitudinal pressed ribs lab.
- both tongues are formed with transverse V-shaped stiffening and retaining lugs, 1a; 1b respectively, engaged in slots in, and thereby to support, a compression spring 2 pivotally therebetween and giving the self-restoring strip 1, snap-action operation in response to downward pressure on the member A, generally applied by means of a bimetallic strip M in the case of an energy regulator.
- the circular end of strip 1 carries a contact 1c and the square end is secured to a base 3 by a screw 4 passing through an angular member 5 which constitutes a terminal.
- a resilient strip 6 shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. This comprises a hinge portion 6a adjacent the base 3 and forming a terminal, a stiiiened portion 611 bent away from strip 1, a short central portion 60 parallel to strip 1 carrying an insulating button 7 which can be pressed in upwardly by a member B, a resilient portion 6d bent up towards strip 1 and an end portion 62 carrying a contact 6 and an insulating back stop 8.
- a central tongue 6e is formed in the end portion 6e so that this end can he slipped through a slot in the backstop 8 and bent down to retain it (FIGS. 1 and 2).
- the backs-top extends to beyond the end of strip 1 and is provided with extensions 8a which limit the -move ment of strip 1 away from the contact of. Also attached to another portion of the base 3 is a resilient contact member constituted by a spring 9 and a cooperating backstop 10.
- the difference in stiffness for upward and downward movemnets is used to assist in obtaining an acceptable ratio of opearting times for closed periods and for open periods.
- buttons 7 can give permanent open and permanent closed positions of the switch.
- the resilient portion 6d improves the contact pressure at the moment of make.
- the pressure of the contacts 6 and 10 together causes the portion 6a to give way slightly and in doing so increases the angle at which the spring 2 lies. This increase of angle increases the component force from the spring 2 to force the contacts together.
- the deflection of the resilient portion 6d of the flexible member carrying the contact 6] has another useful object: it produces a slight sliding motion between the contacts, and this is of great value in rubbing away surface contamination on the contacts.
- a further feature is that whenever the button 7 is changed in position, and especially when switching from a controlling position to open and also from open to a controlling position, a considerable amount of sliding action takes place at the contacts, this sliding action being associated with the arcuate positioning movements of the contacts. This sliding action effectively reduces any slight surface roughness which may be building up, Well before a tendency to weld at high points occurs.
- a further useful feature of the method of adjustment shown is that for various operating positions the contacts touch at different positions on their surfaces. This assists in lengthening life by distributing the contact wear.
- the circuit controlled by spring 9 is normally closed,
- An electric switch comprising an insulating base, a first terminal member mounted on said base, a first resiliently flexible member mounted at one end on said base in electrical connection with said first terminal member, a first contact mounted on said first resiliently flexible member at its other end, a self-restoring snap-action mechanism mounted on said first resiliently flexible member for deflecting it, means for directly engaging and operating said snap-action mechanism whereby to deflect said first resiliently flexible member, .
- a second terrninal member mounted on said base so as to be insulated from said first resiliently flexible member, a second resiliently flexible member mounted on said base in electrical connection with said second terminal member, a second contact mounted on said second resiliently flexible member for engagement with said first contact when said first resiliently flexible member is in its undeflected position, said second resiliently flexible member comprising a flexible length carrying said second contact and a further stifi'ened length adjacent its mounted end, a backstop mounted on said second resiliently flexible member to limit the movement of said first contact away from said second contact and means operative
- An electric switch as claimed in claim 1 comprising a resilient contact member mounted on said base for engagement with said second contact, a stop mounted on said base and limiting said movement of said resilient contact member whereby said resilient contact member engages said second contact on said second resiliently flexible member in its unactuated position but not in its actuated position.
Landscapes
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
- Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB23898/62A GB958754A (en) | 1962-06-21 | 1962-06-21 | Improvements in or relating to snap action electric switches |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3154648A true US3154648A (en) | 1964-10-27 |
Family
ID=10203097
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US217397A Expired - Lifetime US3154648A (en) | 1962-06-21 | 1962-08-16 | Snap action switch mechanism |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3154648A (es) |
BE (1) | BE623051A (es) |
GB (1) | GB958754A (es) |
NL (1) | NL285403A (es) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5006681A (en) * | 1987-12-31 | 1991-04-09 | Holec Systemen En Componenten B.V. | Leaf spring system and an electric switch provided with such a leaf spring system |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4717795A (en) * | 1985-10-24 | 1988-01-05 | Kontakta Alkatreszgyar | Precision snap-action switch with stiffening ribs between an actuating bulge and support for the actuating spring element |
GB8717626D0 (en) * | 1987-07-24 | 1987-09-03 | Strix Ltd | Hot water jug |
US4837411A (en) * | 1987-12-07 | 1989-06-06 | Methode Electronics, Inc. | Spring switch |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1983076A (en) * | 1933-12-09 | 1934-12-04 | Trumbull Electric Mfg Co | Thermostatic switch |
GB566762A (en) * | 1943-03-09 | 1945-01-12 | I L Berridge & Co Ltd | Improvements in snap action mechanisms |
US2692317A (en) * | 1951-01-23 | 1954-10-19 | Stevens Mfg Co Inc | Snap-acting thermostat |
US2821588A (en) * | 1955-04-29 | 1958-01-28 | Controls Co Of America | Snap acting electric switch |
-
0
- NL NL285403D patent/NL285403A/xx unknown
-
1962
- 1962-06-21 GB GB23898/62A patent/GB958754A/en not_active Expired
- 1962-08-16 US US217397A patent/US3154648A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1962-09-28 BE BE623051A patent/BE623051A/fr unknown
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1983076A (en) * | 1933-12-09 | 1934-12-04 | Trumbull Electric Mfg Co | Thermostatic switch |
GB566762A (en) * | 1943-03-09 | 1945-01-12 | I L Berridge & Co Ltd | Improvements in snap action mechanisms |
US2692317A (en) * | 1951-01-23 | 1954-10-19 | Stevens Mfg Co Inc | Snap-acting thermostat |
US2821588A (en) * | 1955-04-29 | 1958-01-28 | Controls Co Of America | Snap acting electric switch |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5006681A (en) * | 1987-12-31 | 1991-04-09 | Holec Systemen En Componenten B.V. | Leaf spring system and an electric switch provided with such a leaf spring system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BE623051A (fr) | 1963-03-28 |
GB958754A (en) | 1964-05-27 |
NL285403A (es) |
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