US3196239A - Switch for indicating out-of-sight loads - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1955 c. F. MAXTED ETAL 3,196,239

SWITGHFOR INDICATING OUT-OF-SIGHT LQADS Filed Sept. 16, 1963 INVENTOR, CHARLES F.' MAxv-Eo,

/ AvroRNz-rr BY ROBERT E. RAMslNc-;

United States Patent O 3,196,239 SWITCH FOR INDCATING OUT-F- SIGHI LOADS u Charles F. Maxted, 21525 Meyler St., Torrance, Calif.,

and Robert E. V. Ramsing, 15283 E. Saneto Drive,

Whittier, Calif.

Filed Sept. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 308,963 3 Claims. (Cl. Zilli-M7) rThe present invention relates to a remote indicating switch, or which is sometimes termed a pilot lighted switch. The switch is primarily adapted to fuliill requirements for normal pilot light applications requiring remote switching and an indication .of out of sight loads. Thus the switch when in on position has the handle thereof illuminated.

We have found that a neon light for the purpose of our invention would not be satisfactory due to the fact that switch handles are formed in different colored acrylic plastics, such as red, green, blue, amber, clear, and white. Because of this spectral range of colors, a gas tube light source such as neon is not satisfactory because neon has a narrow spectral distribution and does not operate satisfactorily in a blue and green switch handle. In order to have a lighted handle, we found that we must use an incandescent lamp, however, an incandescent lamp of a sufficiently small size to fit into the handle is necessarily limited to low voltage, that is, under 18 volts as normally manufactured. It was impossible to obtain a sufficiently small incandescent lamp to operate on 110 volts A.C. even when placed in series with a diode to reduce voltage across the lamp. Further, such a lamp is not satisfactory because of the liimsy nature of the lamp filament and its short life. The present invention presents a solution to the problem in the use of an incandescent lamp for placement in a handle, which Klamp has long life, the handle does not heat land wherein the switch may be self contained in a normal single gang box and meet the requirements of Underwriters Laboratories.

An object of the invention is to provide a remote indieating switch, the handle or toggle of which is suiiiciently illuminated when the switch is closed to indicate position of the load.

Another object is the provision of a pilot lighted switch wherein the switch handle may be of different colors and illuminated to indicate a load condition.

A further object is the provision of a remote indicating switch or pilot lighted switch which is inexpensive in cost of manufacture, of Ilong life, easily assembled and generally superior to illuminated switches now known to the inventors.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in one embodiment in the accompanying drawing, described generally and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a switch incorporating our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view `on the line 2-2 of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the interior of the switch case, taken substantially on the |line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale, of the switch handle taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, partially sectional bottom plan View ofthe switch handle; and,

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram for the switch.

3,195,239 Patented July 20, 1965 We have for the purpose of illustration, shown a switch incorporating our invention. Our invention is not directed to the switching mechanism per se other than to show an environment for invention. Thus, referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, we have provided a normal single gang box or casing 1 having a cover 2 and the usual strap 3 whereby the switch casing and cover may be secured in an outlet box as is the usual practice. Within the casing l is an elongated switch arm 4 carrying at its outer end a contact 5. Contact 5 is adapted to engage' contact 6 carried by a fixed position arm 7. It is intended by the construction shown to move the arm 4 so as to make or break contacts 5 and 6. As is generally known, the contacts 5 and 6 are of heavy duty silver alloy while the arm 4 of springlike material, is formed from phosphor bronze. The switch handle or toggle 8 is so constructed on the base 9 thereof as to provide an oil center cam or cams 10 adapted to contact flattened area 11 of arm 4 when the handle is rocked to provide a slow breaking of the contacts 5 and 6 and a fast closing thereof. The oit-center cams 10 of which there are two, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, are formed on trunnions 12 and 13. The switch handle is hollow or of tubular form, as indicated at 14 and has a closed outer end 15. This hollow construction extends through the base of the switch handle. The switch handle is adapted to receive within the hollow or tubular portion thereof an incandescent bulb 16. The connecting wires 17 and 18 from the bulb 16 extend outwardly from the switch handle as shown in FIGURE 5. The base of the switch handle is elongated in form, as shown in FIG- URE 6 at 19 and likewise open at 20 for access within the handle. An insert 21 is formed for reception within the opening 20 to partially close said opening and still permit outward passage of the wires 17 and 18 from the incandescent bulb. Insert 21 is centrally enlarged at 22 and provided with an extended central pin or stud 23. Within the case 1 is a toggle spring 24 (FIG. 4) provided at its ends with cups 25 and 26 which cups have depressed centers 27 and 28. The casing 1 is provided with a stud 29 so positioned as to be received in the depressed center 27 of cup 25 while stud 23 is received in the depressed center 28 of cup 26 when the parts of the switch are assembled. The trunnions rest between flattened areas 35 and 36 of the casing 1 and the cover 2 is provided with a pair of V-notched bearings 37 which overlie each trunnion and hold the switch handle in position. In addition to the foregoing, resilient bumpers 38 are within the casing with the toggle spring placed therebetween and against which bumpers the switch handleI is rocked, see FIGURE 4. The arrangement is such that the toggle spring functions when the handle is rocked to an on or olf position.

As an incandescent bulb is utilized in the present invention, it becomes essential that the incandescent bulb be protected as far as possible so as to assure a long Ilife' thereof, particularly when used with volts A.C. To accomplish this desired result, we use a 2 volt incandescent bulb operated at 1.5 volts. We have therefore provided ameans for reduci-ng 110 volts A.C. to 1.5 volts in a normal sized single gang box or casing, by means of the transformer shown at 50 and which is housed between the casing 1 and the cover 2. This transformer is conveniently made by providing a closed laminated iron core 51 having a primary winding 52 of approximately 9,000 turns of No. 49 copper insulated wire and a secondary winding S3 of 450 turns of No. 38 insulated copper Wire. A transformer of this character is quite small, occupies little space and eltectively reduces 110 volts A C. to 1.5 volts output. As we use a 2 volt incandescent bulb, we are therefore operating the lamp at about 60% of its rated voltage with resultant extended Vtion, that the incandescent bulb will give approximately seven and one-half years of light. While the incandescent bulb may be replaced inthe handle, the entire switch is -so inexpensive as to make replacement of the switch feasible rather than attempting to replace the incandescent bulb. r

The casing 1 and the Vcover 2 are readily secured together when the parts are in assembly by means of screws, as shown in FlGURE 4 at 54 and 55. l

A switch circuit is shown in FIGURE 7 wherein 56 rep- 'resents a load at some remote point.V 57 and 58 are leads from the load 56 which leads are connected to the primary Winding 52 in shunt relationship while lead 5S connects to a source of current and lead 59 forms the second lead from the source of current supply to switch arm 4 whichvmay close the electrical circuit to arm 7 which connects with lead 57 and transformer primary 52.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows.

Assuming the circuit for the switch as shown in FIG- URE 7, it is evident that when the contacts and 6 are closed that electric current is fed to the primary 52 of the transformer so that the incandescent bulb incandesces within the switch handle and indicates a current supply to the load 56 which load may be at a remote point. As long as electricity is being conducted to the load the incandescent bulb will glow and indicate this fact. When the incandescent bulb is not glowing, it is evident that no load is being supplied as the switch would be in an of position.

We believe that the operation of the switch is clear from previous statements relative to the same although it may be mentioned that movement of the switch arm is such as to assure positive make and break of the contacts 5 and 6 by reason of the off center cams 4 vand the toggle spring engagement with the switch arm. i

We claim: i

1. In a device for indicating that a current carrying switch has been turned to an on position, a casing having therein a fixed contact, an elongated flexible Yswitch arm having at one end a Contact normally urged into engagement with said fixed contact to complete an electric circuit, a toggle pivoted in the casing, a pair of spaced resilient bumpers in the casing proximate the base of the toggle for limiting movement of the toggle in either direction, a hollow handle of translucent material forming a Vportion of said toggle, a cam carried by the toggle to engage said flexible switch arm to hold its contact away from said xed contact when the toggle is in olf position and to allow engagement of the two contacts when the toggle is in on position, a low voltage bulb of incandescent type within said hollow handle and means for delivering to the bulb a current of lower voltage than its rated capacity but above that required to make it glow, whereby the handle will indicate by its glow that the switch is delivering current to its load.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said means includes a transformer having a primary winding opened and closed by said contacts and a secondaryY Winding, for reducing volts A C; to approximately 1.5 voltage, said transformer primary winding being open and closed by movement of the elongated flexible switch arm, and the bulb being connected in parrahel with the transformer secondary. Y

V3. The device as set forth in claim 2, in which said transformer has a primary winding of 9,000 turns of No. 49 insulated copper wire and a secondary winding of 450 turns of No. 3S insulated copper wire wound on an iron core. Y

VReferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,494,560 1/50 Kaupp 200-167 X 2,612,597 9/52 Sherrand ZOO-167 '2,625,631 l/ 513 Chrisler ZOO-167 2,914,705 11/59 Krystyan et al. 20D-167 X KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Examinez'.

Claims (1)

1. IN A DEVICE FOR INDICATING THAT A CURRENT CARRYING SWITCH HAS BEEN TURNED TO AN "ON" POSITION, A CASING HAVINT THEREIN A FIXED CONTACT, AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE SWITCH ARM HAVING AT ONE END A CONTACT NORMALLY URGED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT TO COMPLETE AN ELECTIRC CIRCUIT, A TOGGLE PIVOTED IN THE CASING, A PAIR OF SPACED RESILIENT BUMPERS IN THE CASING PROXIMATE THE BASE OF THE TOGGLE FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE TOGGLE IN EITHER DIRECTION, A HOLLOW HANDLE OF TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL FORMING A PROTION OF SAID TOGGLE, A CAM CARRIED BY THE TOGGLE TO ENGAGE SAID FLEXIBLE SWITCH ARM TO HOLD ITS CONTACT AWAY FROM SAID FIXED CONTACT WHEN THE TOGGLE IS IN "OFF" POSITION AND TO ALLOW ENGAGEMENNT OF THE TWO CONTACTS WHEN THE TOGGLE 1S IN "ON" POSITION, A LOW VOLTAGE BULB OF INCANDESCENT TYPE WITHIN SAID HOLLOW HANDLE AND MEANS FOR DELEVERING TO THE BULB A CURRENG OF LOWER VOLTAGE THAN ITS RATED CAPACITY BUT ABOVE THAT REQUIRED TO MAKE IT GLOW, WHEREBY THE HANDLE WILL INDICATE BY ITS GLOW THAT THE SWITCH IS DELIVERING CURRENG TO ITS LOAD.

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