US3185786A - Snap-action electric switch - Google Patents

Snap-action electric switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3185786A
US3185786A US267088A US26708863A US3185786A US 3185786 A US3185786 A US 3185786A US 267088 A US267088 A US 267088A US 26708863 A US26708863 A US 26708863A US 3185786 A US3185786 A US 3185786A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
lever member
over
base
switch
center
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
Application number
US267088A
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English (en)
Inventor
Wallace D Wilson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Elastic Stop Nut Corp
Original Assignee
Elastic Stop Nut Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to GB1054832D priority Critical patent/GB1054832A/en
Application filed by Elastic Stop Nut Corp filed Critical Elastic Stop Nut Corp
Priority to US267088A priority patent/US3185786A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3185786A publication Critical patent/US3185786A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
    • H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
    • 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
    • H01H5/18—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members by flexing of blade springs

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the art of switches, and more particularly to improved over-center switches of the type usually employed in combination with time delay control apparatus.
  • the improved over-center switches of the present invention are particularly useful for opening or closing electrical circuits after a lapse of a predetermined time interval following the actuation of the time delay control apparatus by an operator.
  • Still a further object of the present invention is to provide improved over-center switches of the type described that are relatively simple in operation and construction, easy to manufacture, and highly efiicient in use.
  • an over-center switch comprising a lever memher, and over-center spring means arranged in a manner to spring load the lever member for rotation in a plane over a limited distance about one of its ends, the latter end being pivotally mounted upon the base of the switch and functioning as a fulcrum for the lever member.
  • One end of the over-center spring means is also pivotally mounted on the base, and its other end is pivotally engaged with the non-fulcrum end of the lever member in a manner whereby the lever member compresses the over-center spring means so as to bias the lever member in either of two opposite directions from a position of dead center.
  • the lever member is biased for movement, with snap action, in the aforementioned two opposite directions from the position of the lever member when it compresses the over-center spring means a maximum.
  • Motion transmitting means usually from, and controlled by, time delay control apparatus are cooperatively coupled to the lever member to urge it in either of the two opposite directions.
  • Adjustable stop means are provided to limit the distance travelled by the non-fulcrum end of the lever member in at least one direction, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the switch.
  • Contact assembly means are cooperatively coupled to the lever member and are adapted to be actuated by the movement of the lever member.
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a time delay control apparatus and over-center switch illustrating the switch in one operative position in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the switch, taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, in one operative position thereof in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view of the switch, taken along the line 3a--3a in FIG. 2, in said one operative position thereof;
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the switch in another operative position thereof in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded view of some parts of the switch to illustrate their pivotal mountings in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the switch shown in FIG. 6, taken along the line 7-7, and showing the switch in one operative position thereof;
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the switch shown in FIG. 6, taken along the line 8-8;
  • an over-center switch 10 cooperatively associated with time delay control apparatus 12 for actuating the switch 10 by means of a rod14, the latter being mounted for reciprocatory motion in a solenoid 16.
  • the rod 14 is adapted to be reciprocated in the directions in dicated by the double headed arrow 18 by the time delay control apparatus 12 in a manner described in US. Patent No. 2,489,381, issued on November 29, 1949, to C. Lindahl for Time Delay Control Apparatus.
  • the time delay apparatus 12 may also be of the type described in US. Patent No. 2,855,481, issued on October 7, 1958 to C. Lindahl for Time Delay Apparatus. Since the timedelay control apparatus 12 does not form a part of the present invention other than to supply a reciprocatory force to a lever member 20 for operating the switch 10, it will not be described herein, reference being made to the aforementioned patents for details of its operation.
  • the lower end of the rod 14 is of reduced diameter and has slidably mounted thereon a lost motion element in the form of a sleeve 22, the travel of which relative to the rod 14 is limited in the lower direction by :a riut 24, and in the upper direction by adjustable lock nuts 26 and 28 threaded on the rod 14.
  • the lower end of the sleeve 22 is recessed to receive a spring 30 which acts to bias the sleeve 22 away'from the nut 24 and towards the lock nut 28.
  • the outer surface of the sleeve 22 is channeled to provide end shoulders or oollans 32 and 34.
  • the switch comprising a base of insulating material adapted to be secured to the time delay control apparatus 12 by any suitable means, as by screws (not shown) engageable in threaded openings 42, 44, 46 and 48.
  • the rod 14 extends through an elongated opening 50 in the base 40.
  • Means are provided to mount the lever member 20 pivotally on the base 40.
  • a block 52 of insulating material is fixed to the base 40 by screws 54 and 56 adjacent to an edge 58 of the base 40.
  • the block 52 is formed with a V-groove 59 into which the fulcrum end 38 of the lever member 20 is pivoted.
  • the lever member 20 is adapted to rotate about its fulcrum end 38 so that its non-fulcrum end 60 describes an arc of rotation in a plane perpendicular to the base 40.
  • the lever member 20 is preferably of spring steel.
  • over-center spring means 62 are provided with a rod 64 having an enlarged head 66, the latter being formed with a V-g-r-oove 68.
  • a knife edge '70 supported by a block '72 that is anchored to the base 40 by a screw 74, is positioned to pivotally engage the groove 68 in the head 66.
  • the rod 64 is disposed loosely within .a helical spring 76, the spring 76 being contained with a hollow cylinder 78.
  • the outside end of the cylinder '78 is formed with a V-groove 80 adapted to engage pivotally the non-fulcrum end 60 of the lever member 20.
  • the block '72 is disposed opposite the block 52 and spaced from it a distance so that the spring 76 is compressed a maximum when the lever member 20 and the over-center spring means 62 are in position of substantially linear alignment, that is, in a position of dead center. Because of the spring loading provided primarily by the spring '76 of the over-center spring means 62, the lever member 20 may move upwardly or downwardly from the position of dead center with a snap action.
  • the lever member 20 has a winged member 82 of insulating material fixed to it adjacent to its non-fulcrum end 60, as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the winged member 82 is formed with wings 84 and 86 extending in substantially opposite directions in the general plane defined by the lever member 20 and comprise means to move movable contact arms 88 and 90, the latter being provided with movable contacts 92 and 94, respectively.
  • the contact arms 88 and are anchored to the base 40 by screws 96 and 98 respectively.
  • the screws 96 and 98 also engage cont-act strips 100 and 102 provided with screws 104 and 106, respectively, for making electrical connections with the contacts 92 and 94, respectively.
  • the movable contacts 92 and 94 are adapted to be urged by their resilient arms 88 and 90 against lower fixed contacts 120 and 122 respectively.
  • the fixed contacts 120 and 122 are fixed to the base 40 by resilient straps 124 and 126 and screws 128 and 130 (FIG. 2) respectively. Electrical c0nnections may be made to the lower fixed contacts 120 and 122 by means of screws 128 and 130 respectively.
  • the time delay apparatus 12 is actuated by an operator and the lever member 20 is rotated downwardly about its fulcrum end 38 by the downward movement of the rod 14 in the time delay control apparatus 12, the upper collar 34- :of the sleeve 22 engaging the upper surface of the lever member 28 and rotating it downwardly past the dead center provided for by the over-center spring means 62.
  • the lever member 20 then snaps to its lowest terminal position determined by the position of the adjustable screw 132.
  • the rod 14 begins to move upwardly causing the lower collar 32 of the sleeve 22 to engage the lower surface of the lever member 20 and rotates the latter upwardly past the dead center position of the over-center spring means 62.
  • the spring 30 of the lost motion sleeve 22 is compressed thereby boosting the lever member across its dead center position with an additional force provided by the compression of the spring 30.
  • FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 there is shown another embodiment 10a of an over-center switch of the present invention.
  • the switch 10a comprises a base of insulating material.
  • a lever member 142 of spring steel has a fulcrum end 144 mounted within a groove 146 in a block 148 fixed to the base 140.
  • a U-shaped over-center spring means 150 is formed with a notched end 152 that is pivotally mounted for rotation about a knife edge 154.
  • the knife edge 154 is fixed to the base 140 by means of a screw 156.
  • a notched end 158, oppo site to the notched end 156, of the over-center spring means 150 is pivotally engaged with the non-fulcrum end of the lever member 142 in a manner whereby the lever member 142 is spring loaded so that it can rotate about its fulcrum end 144 upwardly or downwardly, with snap action, past a dead center position.
  • the rod 14 of the time delay control apparatus 12 is disposed within a slot 162 in the lever member 142 and the opposite shoulders 34 and 32 of the sleeve 22 are adapted to rotate the lever member 142 downwardly or upwardly in the same manner explained for the operation of the switch 10.
  • the rod 14 extends through a hole 164 in the base 140.
  • the operation of the switch a is similar to that described for the switch 10.
  • Motion of the rod 14, controlled by the time delay control apparatus ,12 initially moves the lever member 14 in one direction.
  • the lost motion sleeve 22 will cause the lever member 142 to move downwardly past its dead center position until the winged member 182 engages the screw 200.
  • the shoulder 32 of the sleeve 22 will urge the lever member 142 upwardly about its fulcrum end 144.
  • the U-shaped over-center spring means 150 will cause the lever member 142 to move upwardly with a snap action until the movable contacts 166 and 168 engage the upper fixed contacts 184 and 186, respectively.
  • over-center switches of the type wherein a lever member is connected pivotally at opposite ends thereof.
  • Overcenter spring means are also connected pivotally at opposite ends thereof in a manner to spring load the lever member so that the resistance offered by the lever member in passing through a dead center position is reduced.
  • Adjustable stop means have also been described for increasing further the sensitivity of the switch operation. Since various modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is desired that the foregoing description shall be considered merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
  • over-center spring means having two opposite ends
  • over-center spring means having two opposite ends
  • adjustable screw means threaded in said base and disposed to limit the movement of said lever member in one of said two opposite directions.
  • An over-center switch for use with time delay control apparatus having a motion transmitting member adapted to move in either of two opposite directions, said switch comprising,
  • adjustable screw means disposed in said base to limit the movement of said lever member in at least one of said two directions.

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  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
  • Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)
US267088A 1963-03-22 1963-03-22 Snap-action electric switch Expired - Lifetime US3185786A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1054832D GB1054832A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1963-03-22
US267088A US3185786A (en) 1963-03-22 1963-03-22 Snap-action electric switch

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US267088A US3185786A (en) 1963-03-22 1963-03-22 Snap-action electric switch

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3185786A true US3185786A (en) 1965-05-25

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US267088A Expired - Lifetime US3185786A (en) 1963-03-22 1963-03-22 Snap-action electric switch

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Country Link
US (1) US3185786A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1054832A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3365556A (en) * 1966-03-02 1968-01-23 Elastic Stop Nut Corp Snap-action switches normally urged toward one of two operating positions

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1743073A (en) * 1926-08-03 1930-01-07 Edison Electric Appliance Co Temperature-control device
GB848294A (en) * 1957-11-19 1960-09-14 Eduard Schrack Electrical snap-switches

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1743073A (en) * 1926-08-03 1930-01-07 Edison Electric Appliance Co Temperature-control device
GB848294A (en) * 1957-11-19 1960-09-14 Eduard Schrack Electrical snap-switches

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3365556A (en) * 1966-03-02 1968-01-23 Elastic Stop Nut Corp Snap-action switches normally urged toward one of two operating positions

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GB1054832A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

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