US3311717A - Electrical switch with improved movable contact and detent structure - Google Patents

Electrical switch with improved movable contact and detent structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3311717A
US3311717A US514247A US51424765A US3311717A US 3311717 A US3311717 A US 3311717A US 514247 A US514247 A US 514247A US 51424765 A US51424765 A US 51424765A US 3311717 A US3311717 A US 3311717A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
ball
wires
ring
electrical
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
US514247A
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English (en)
Inventor
Melvin A Lace
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.)
Oak Electro Netics Corp
Original Assignee
Oak Electro Netics 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
Application filed by Oak Electro Netics Corp filed Critical Oak Electro Netics Corp
Priority to US514247A priority Critical patent/US3311717A/en
Priority to NL6617610A priority patent/NL6617610A/xx
Priority to FR87472A priority patent/FR1505074A/fr
Priority to DE1665294A priority patent/DE1665294B2/de
Priority to GB56362/66A priority patent/GB1127689A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3311717A publication Critical patent/US3311717A/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
    • H01H1/16—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting by rolling; by wrapping; Roller or ball contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
    • H01H19/54—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions
    • H01H19/56—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S200/00—Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
    • Y10S200/29—Ball

Definitions

  • a greatly simplified design for an electrical switch is presented. This design allows a switch to be constructed in a miniature size, while providing good electrical contact and positive detent action when desired. Furthermore, a variety of switching arrangements are possible.
  • One object of this invention is to provide an electrical switch of improved and greatly simplified design.
  • Another object of. this invention is to provide an electrical switch capable of being constructed in a miniature size.
  • One feature of this invention is the provision of an electrical switch using an electrically conductive ball as the bridging element between electrical contacts.
  • Another feature of this invention is the provision of an electrical switch using a plurality of elongated, electrically conductive members, as wires, for forming electrical switching contacts.
  • Still another feature of this'invention is the provision of an electrical switch occupying a minimum of space, and having a minimum number of components.
  • a further feature of this invention is the provision of an electrical switch using resilient wires for electrical contacts, and a movable electrically conductive ball for forming a bridging electrical path between the contacts.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the switch of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the switch of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a top view, partly in section, of the switch of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of a switch with a modified switching contact construction
  • FIG. 6 is a side view, partly 'in section, of another modification of the switch of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of another embodiment of switch contacts.
  • FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a switch embodying the contacts of FIG. 7;
  • FIG. 9 is a top view, partly in section, of the switch of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a top view, partly in section, of another embodiment of the electrical switch.
  • FIG. 11 is a side view, partly in section, of the switch of FIG. 10,
  • FIG. 12 is a top view similar to FIG. 5 of a switch with a modified detent construction.
  • FIG. 13 is a side view, partly in section, of a sealed switch construction.
  • FIGS. 1-4 one embodiment of the invention in a rotary electrical switch is illustrated.
  • a ball 24 of electrically conductive material is wedged in the space between adjacent wires 20 and a central ball contact wire 25.
  • Wires 20 are arranged in the shape of a ring, concentric with wire 25. A bridging electrical path between adjacent wires 20 is formed through the ball 24. A ball carrier 26 is used to move ball 24 around the ring and into engagement with different electrical contacts.
  • Carrier 26 is a cylindrical body of insulating material, having a generally U-shaped recess 28 therein.
  • Recess 28 is defined by a pair of side walls 29 and a back wall 30, seen best in FIG. 4.
  • the width of recess 28 is slight ly greater than the diameter of ball 24, and the surfaces of walls 29 abut the ball.
  • a screwdriver slot 32 on carrier 26 allows the carrier to be rotated concentric with wire 25, moving ball 24 into engagement with adjacent pairs of wires 20.
  • Resilient wire 25 is used both as an electrical contact terminal and as a spring for holding ball 24 in contact with the ring of wires 20. This switch provides a bridging action between the center wire 25 and any two adjacent wires 20.
  • a central portion 33 of base 21 can be relieved, as seen in FIG. 3, exposing a greater length of wire 25.
  • Recess 33 may be filled with a material that is more resilient than the material forming base i 21 in order to distribute the stress on the wire 25 where it enters base 21.
  • wire 25 may be tapered in order to distribute the stress and provide a longer lasting switch.
  • wires 20 extend over the top of carrier 26, forming a rotatable mounting for the ball carrier.
  • the lower portions 22 of Wires 20 may be directly inserted into a printed circuit board and soldered thereto.
  • the switch construction described above using a minimal number of easily formed components, can be economically manufactured in a miniature size.
  • the switch illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 was constructed.
  • the switch is not to be limited to a miniature size, however, since the simple and extremely compact design can be used in switches of any desired size.
  • FIG. 5 a modified switch incorporating a positive detent mechanism, is illustrated.
  • an outer ring of electrical contact wires or pins 36 is provided,
  • a second smaller ring of detent wires 37 extends outward from base 21 concentric with the ring of wires.
  • Pins 37 are spaced equidistant from adjacent pins 36, and need not be of electrically conductive material.
  • ball carrier 26 can be formed from an electrically conductive material. With the construction illustrated, five pairs of switching contacts are provided, each using a single pin 36, with wire 25 as the common electrical contact terminal.
  • Wires 37 form a positive detent mechanism for ball 24.
  • the detent action can be made heavier by using wires 37 of larger diameter or stiffer construction than the other wires 36 and 25.
  • the spacing of the detent wires can also be varied to change the detent action.
  • wires 25 and 37 give, allowing ball 24 to pass through and snap into the next detent position.
  • a greater number of equally spaced wires maybe placed ina ring around common wire 25.
  • the diameter of the ring must be increased, and hence also the diameter of ball 24.
  • the switch construction illustrated in FIG. 6 allows the number of contacts to be increased without increasing the size of ball 24.
  • An electrically conductive cap 39, carried by central wire 25, has an arcuate peripheral surt ace 40 which abuts ball 24.
  • the ball rests on an O- shaped washer 41 which is raised from base 21 by fingers 42.
  • Ball carrier 26 is rotatably mounted between an upper support 44, formed from insulating material, and
  • the conductive cap for wire 25 can be used with either of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4 or 5.
  • each pin 36 is desired.
  • the switch contact arrange.- rnent illustrated in FIG. 7 provides an unlimited number of pairs of contacts. Pins 36 form one contact for each of the pairs of contacts. The other contact is formed trom a pin or wire 46 spaced radially inward from and opposite each wire 36. Wires 46 are arranged in a ring of smaller diameter than either of the rings of wires 36 or 37. In FIG. 7, each pair of switching contacts 36-46 is indicated by the same number of primes. Ball 24 is located in the space between the rings of wires 36, 37 and wires 46.
  • the ball when at rest is detented in either an outer position, between adjacent detent wires 37 and wires 36, 46, e.g. position 48 in FIG. 7, or an inner position, e.g. position 49, between one detent wire 37 and adjacent wires 46.
  • the path of ball 24 is thus seen to follow a zigzag pattern around a circle concentric with the rings of ball contacts.
  • Ball 24 is more positively detented in the outer position than in the inner position, due to the larger distance between adjacent wires in the outer rings.
  • the detent action may be made equal by using smaller diameter (or stifler) wires 46 for the inner ring.
  • an electrically insulated ball can be placed on the opposite side of the ball path, detenting in an outer position when ball 24 detents in an inner position.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 a switch embodying the ball contact arrangement of FIG. 7 is illustrated.
  • an electrically insulated spacer 50 is inserted in the center of the ring of contacts 46.
  • Spacer 50 has webs 51 which protrude into the space between adjacent electrical contacts 46 to prevent ball 24 from detenting in the inner position and bridging adjacent electrical con- 4 tacts 46, Thus, the pairs of separate switching contacts are completely independent from each other. i
  • the ball carrier is formed in the shape of a hollow cylindrical shell 54, located in the space between contacts 46 and contacts 36, 37.
  • a nylon ball 55 is located opposite ball 24 for balancing the detent action.
  • ball 55 or other additional balls may be made conductive to provide additional bridging contacts for the switch.
  • the switch of FIGS. 8 and 9 can be modified as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 to provide a single common terminal 57 in place of individual independent terminals 46.
  • Electrically conductive common terminal 57 is resiliently mounted to base 21 by spring wires 58, for biasing ball 24 into firm engagement with contacts 36.
  • a top portion of wires 58 protrudes through base 21 for connection with an external electrical circuit.
  • Common terminal 57 which may be formed from brass, has a hollow configuration in order to reduce its mass. This produces a light weight cylinder having a generally U-shape defined by an outer side wall 60, a bottom wall 61, and an inner side wall 62. Spring wires 58 are imbedded in the bottom wall 61.
  • shell 54 is rotated by an attached shaft 64 which protrudes through the central openings in cylinder 57 and base 21.
  • Base 21 further has an annular downwardly extending outer wall 65 which protrudes below the level of the switch mechanism.
  • a cover 66 is secured to wall 65 to enclose the switch mechanism.
  • FIG. 12 a modification of the switch of FIG. 5 is illustrated in which the wires 37 detent on a corner of the ball carrier 26, instead of on the ball 24 itself.
  • the outer periphery of ball carrier 26 has shallow, slightly recessed portions 70 which abut detent wires 37 and hold the ball carrier in place.
  • the remaining outer surface periphery 71 of carrier 26 has a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of ball carrier 26 in FIG. 5, in order to snap the ball carrier into the detented position illustrated in FIG. 12,
  • the effective diameter .of central contact wire 72 must be proportionately increased. This may be accomplished by using a wire 72 of larger diameter than wires 36 or 37, or by securing an electrically conductive cap, similar to cap 39 in FIG. 6, to the central wire 72.
  • the various switches shown herein may be sealed by the constructionillustrated in FIG. 13.
  • the switch itself is similar to that illustrated for FIG. 3, with the exception that the top portions of wires 20 are not turned over the top of ball carrier 26.
  • the switch is encased in a hollow cylindrical shell 75 of insulating material.
  • a circular opening in the top of shell 75 allows the screwdriver adjustment 32 to protrude therethrough.
  • An 0 ring 76 wedged between rotatable ball carrier 26 and shell 75, forms a seal between the opening in the shell and the switch mechanism.
  • An outer steel shell 78 forms a protective covering for inner shell 75.
  • the steel shell 78 is bonded to the plastic shell 75 by a layer 79 of synthetic resin such as silicone rubber. With this construction, the switch mechanism is protected against impact as well as moisture and atmospheric conditions. Any of the switch mechanisms illutrated in FIGS. 1-12 may be encased in the manner illustrated in FIG. 13.
  • An electrical switch comprising:
  • Ball carrier' members extending from said support and arranged substantially equally spaced from each other in the shape of a ring
  • said bridging contact being located between said resilient wire and adjacent conductive contact members along said ring,
  • An electrical switch comprising:
  • electrically conductive contact means mounted on said support, defining a circle of different diameter than the diameter of said first ring and concentric therewith;
  • detent wires for contacting and holding said member in engagement with only one conductive wire, said detent wires being mounted on said support and arranged the shape of a second ring with each detent wire being located between adjacent conductive wires;
  • said contact means comprises a single resilient wire located in the center of said first ring, forming a common electrical contact for each of said conductive wires.
  • said contact means comprises a cylindrical body having a conductive outer surface, said mass being resiliently mounted to said support, forming a common electrical contact for each of said conductive wires.
  • said contact means comprises a second plurality of electrically conductive wires spaced along said circle, each of said second wires forming an individual electrical contact for a corresponding conductive wire along said first ring.
  • the switch of claim 7 including electrical insulating means attached to said support and located between said second wires for preventing said member from bridging adjacent second wires, each of said second wires there by forming an independent electrical contact for a corresponding conductive wire along said first ring.
  • An electrical switch comprising:
  • the switch of claim 10 including means for reducing the'spring action stress along the portion of said resilient wire which extends above the plane of said support.
  • said stress reducing means comprises a recess formed in said support around said resilient wire below the plane of said support, exposing a length of resilient wire.

Landscapes

  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
US514247A 1965-12-16 1965-12-16 Electrical switch with improved movable contact and detent structure Expired - Lifetime US3311717A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US514247A US3311717A (en) 1965-12-16 1965-12-16 Electrical switch with improved movable contact and detent structure
NL6617610A NL6617610A (de) 1965-12-16 1966-12-14
FR87472A FR1505074A (fr) 1965-12-16 1966-12-14 Interrupteur électrique
DE1665294A DE1665294B2 (de) 1965-12-16 1966-12-16 Elektrischer Drehschalter
GB56362/66A GB1127689A (en) 1965-12-16 1966-12-16 Improvements in or relating to electrical switches

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US514247A US3311717A (en) 1965-12-16 1965-12-16 Electrical switch with improved movable contact and detent structure

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3311717A true US3311717A (en) 1967-03-28

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ID=24046396

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US514247A Expired - Lifetime US3311717A (en) 1965-12-16 1965-12-16 Electrical switch with improved movable contact and detent structure

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3311717A (de)
DE (1) DE1665294B2 (de)
FR (1) FR1505074A (de)
GB (1) GB1127689A (de)
NL (1) NL6617610A (de)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3478180A (en) * 1968-05-14 1969-11-11 Stockpole Carbon Co Rotary electric switch
US3733447A (en) * 1971-12-02 1973-05-15 Us Army Tilt responsive inertia switch with printed circuit and movable ball contact
US3927288A (en) * 1973-02-01 1975-12-16 Mallory & Co Inc P R Electrical switch having a movable contact rolling between stationary contacts
US4016381A (en) * 1975-07-25 1977-04-05 Schlage Lock Company Switch arrangement for door closers
US4243853A (en) * 1979-03-16 1981-01-06 C & K Components, Inc. Rotary coded switch
US4310729A (en) * 1980-06-30 1982-01-12 Western Electric Company, Inc. Selector switch with common actuator both for circuit selection and for selection indication
US4415783A (en) * 1982-09-20 1983-11-15 Porta Systems Comp. Multipole data switch
US4473726A (en) * 1982-09-27 1984-09-25 Porta Systems Corp. Contact pin and mounting construction for multipole data switch
US4483589A (en) * 1982-12-09 1984-11-20 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Indexing mechanism for rotatable nosepiece of a microscope
US4680433A (en) * 1986-01-07 1987-07-14 Annulus Technical Industries, Inc. Contact assembly for a switch
US4742187A (en) * 1987-04-29 1988-05-03 Carlingswitch, Inc. Rotary switch with common contact
US4751353A (en) * 1987-02-06 1988-06-14 Coleco Industries, Inc. Doll or the like with position and motion sensing switch
US4766275A (en) * 1987-02-06 1988-08-23 Coleco Industries, Inc. Doll or the like with motion sensing switch and switch therefor
US6747220B2 (en) 2000-08-25 2004-06-08 Mattel, Inc. Position/motion sensor
US20060005655A1 (en) * 2001-04-02 2006-01-12 Scheib Patrick L First gear/reverse gate indicator switch
CN112103102A (zh) * 2020-09-15 2020-12-18 南京闻振创电子商务有限公司 一种节能环保的电器触头装置

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3988555A (en) * 1975-06-20 1976-10-26 Amp Incorporated Cam operated switch
DE3501917C1 (de) * 1985-01-22 1986-07-17 Daimler-Benz Ag, 7000 Stuttgart Drehschalter mit auf einem Kreis angeordneten Anschlußkontakten
EP2157591B1 (de) * 2008-08-13 2014-01-22 Tien-Ming Chou Elektronischer Schalter, der an einer Leiterplatte anbringbar ist, und Herstellungsverfahren dafür
US7823275B2 (en) 2008-08-19 2010-11-02 Tien-Ming Chou Method for making an electronic switch that is mountable on a circuit board

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3052763A (en) * 1959-04-06 1962-09-04 Otarion Listener Corp Electric switches
US3197579A (en) * 1961-11-06 1965-07-27 Sperry Rand Corp Multiple circuit rotary switch with resilient annular contact biasing means
US3214528A (en) * 1963-12-16 1965-10-26 Radio Frequency Lab Inc Rotary electrical switch with movable spring contact structure
US3226496A (en) * 1964-09-15 1965-12-28 Radio Frequency Lab Inc Rotary electrical switch with improved spring contact and rotor structure

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3052763A (en) * 1959-04-06 1962-09-04 Otarion Listener Corp Electric switches
US3197579A (en) * 1961-11-06 1965-07-27 Sperry Rand Corp Multiple circuit rotary switch with resilient annular contact biasing means
US3214528A (en) * 1963-12-16 1965-10-26 Radio Frequency Lab Inc Rotary electrical switch with movable spring contact structure
US3226496A (en) * 1964-09-15 1965-12-28 Radio Frequency Lab Inc Rotary electrical switch with improved spring contact and rotor structure

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3478180A (en) * 1968-05-14 1969-11-11 Stockpole Carbon Co Rotary electric switch
US3733447A (en) * 1971-12-02 1973-05-15 Us Army Tilt responsive inertia switch with printed circuit and movable ball contact
US3927288A (en) * 1973-02-01 1975-12-16 Mallory & Co Inc P R Electrical switch having a movable contact rolling between stationary contacts
US4016381A (en) * 1975-07-25 1977-04-05 Schlage Lock Company Switch arrangement for door closers
US4243853A (en) * 1979-03-16 1981-01-06 C & K Components, Inc. Rotary coded switch
US4310729A (en) * 1980-06-30 1982-01-12 Western Electric Company, Inc. Selector switch with common actuator both for circuit selection and for selection indication
US4415783A (en) * 1982-09-20 1983-11-15 Porta Systems Comp. Multipole data switch
US4473726A (en) * 1982-09-27 1984-09-25 Porta Systems Corp. Contact pin and mounting construction for multipole data switch
US4483589A (en) * 1982-12-09 1984-11-20 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Indexing mechanism for rotatable nosepiece of a microscope
US4680433A (en) * 1986-01-07 1987-07-14 Annulus Technical Industries, Inc. Contact assembly for a switch
US4751353A (en) * 1987-02-06 1988-06-14 Coleco Industries, Inc. Doll or the like with position and motion sensing switch
US4766275A (en) * 1987-02-06 1988-08-23 Coleco Industries, Inc. Doll or the like with motion sensing switch and switch therefor
US4742187A (en) * 1987-04-29 1988-05-03 Carlingswitch, Inc. Rotary switch with common contact
US6747220B2 (en) 2000-08-25 2004-06-08 Mattel, Inc. Position/motion sensor
US20060005655A1 (en) * 2001-04-02 2006-01-12 Scheib Patrick L First gear/reverse gate indicator switch
CN112103102A (zh) * 2020-09-15 2020-12-18 南京闻振创电子商务有限公司 一种节能环保的电器触头装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1127689A (en) 1968-09-18
DE1665294A1 (de) 1971-01-28
DE1665294B2 (de) 1974-08-15
FR1505074A (fr) 1967-12-08
NL6617610A (de) 1967-06-19

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