US3321600A - Switch with variable contact elements - Google Patents

Switch with variable contact elements Download PDF

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Publication number
US3321600A
US3321600A US441499A US44149965A US3321600A US 3321600 A US3321600 A US 3321600A US 441499 A US441499 A US 441499A US 44149965 A US44149965 A US 44149965A US 3321600 A US3321600 A US 3321600A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
switching
switch
spring strip
pieces
strip body
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
US441499A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bernutz Johannes
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.)
International Standard Electric Corp
Original Assignee
International Standard Electric 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 claimed from DEST21953A external-priority patent/DE1200412B/de
Application filed by International Standard Electric Corp filed Critical International Standard Electric Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3321600A publication Critical patent/US3321600A/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
    • H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
    • H01H11/0006—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches for converting electric switches
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • 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
    • H01H1/36—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding
    • H01H1/40—Contact mounted so that its contact-making surface is flush with adjoining insulation
    • H01H1/403—Contacts forming part of a printed circuit
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/722—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a switch, particularly a toggle switch or a sliding switch with easily replaceable and mutually interchangeable switch contacts.
  • toggle switches or sliding switches known to the prior art in which the movable switching piece consists of an insulating body having printed leads as contacts. These switches are relatively complicated in construction and have the drawback that they can be used only in a particular manner which is determined by their construction. Modification afterward into another contacting or switching combination generally is impossible with these prior art switches.
  • an object of the invention to create an easily manufactured switch in which the individual contacting segments or switching pieces can easily be changed and replaced by pieces with other contact combinations.
  • This is achieved according to the invention in that one or several switching pieces are inserted with their top ends into a rail into which a lever mechanism engages with a switching handle, so that when actuating said handle, the switching pieces are inserted or removed from contact with the contacting springs, depending on the direction of actuation.
  • guide pieces are provided between two individual switching pieces within the spring strip body which limit the lateral motion of the switching pieces within said spring strip body.
  • the guide piece is shaped as a support and serves as a bearing for the lever mechanism simultaneously.
  • the lever mechanism is made so that it simultaneously effects two spring strip bodies arranged side by side.
  • U-shaped parts are provided on either mounting ends of a spring strip body to serve as a lateral guide for the switching pieces.
  • angle pieces serve to fasten and hold the lever mechanism and the spring strip body to a plate.
  • the lever mechanism consists of a cap, pivoted in an angle piece and engaging through a pin into a longitudinal hole of the rail in which the switching pieces or elements are fixed.
  • the ribs arranged within the spring strip between the individual chambers for the contact springs are formed in such a way that one or two ribs, when using the spring strip as a counter plug for printed circuits, limit the plu ging depth, whereas all other ones, arranged within the spring strip body are essentially deeper located in the direction of the inner-bottom of the spring strip, in order to obtain a maximum length of the switching path.
  • all ribs within the spring strip are located deeper and a 3,321,600 Patented May 23, 1967 ICC plugging limitation is obtained by inserting one or two additional insulating parts.
  • the switching piece is provided with leads arranged on either side which can be inter-connected within said switching piece.
  • the surfaces (contacting surfaces) are covered with previous metal (bimetal, a galvanizing coat, solid previous metal foil, evaporation, etc.).
  • the switching piece shows solid contacting pieces as leads which project on either side of said piece compared with the surface of the piece.
  • the leads are interrupted by holes in the plugging direction, depending on the sequence of contacts.
  • the spaces in plugging direction are filled by separate insulating parts, depending on the sequence of contacts.
  • FIG. 1 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a manually actuated switch
  • FIG. 2 shows an example of a combination of individual switching pieces or slides with the aid of a rail, in a perspective view
  • FIG. 3 shows a view of a toggle lever switch and illustrates the principle of operation
  • FIG. 4 shows another view of a toggle switch with a lever mechanism and illustrates the principle of operation
  • FIG. 5 shows another view of a double toggle switch, seen from the front side
  • FIG. 6 shows a sectional view from a spring strip with an inserted guide portion
  • FIG. 7 shows a view of a spring strip body in perspective view
  • FIG. 8 shows a view of a switch seen from the lateral side with a cover, partly shown in section.
  • Element 1 in FIG. 1 represents a spring strip body which is used, for example, as a receptacle for plug-in wafers or boards with printed circuits.
  • the spring strip body 1 is equipped with contact springs 13 which protrude with their terminal ends 14 from the rear part of the spring body 1.
  • switching pieces or switching slides 3 with printed leads 3 on their surface can be inserted into the spring strip body 1 for contact making with the contact springs 13, said switching pieces or slides consisting of insulating material.
  • the leads can be interrupted by holes 24 or by separately inserted insulation parts in the plugging direction. The interruptions comply with the actuating sequence of the contacting set.
  • manually operated guide pieces 2 can be inserted into the spring strip 1 to limit the lateral motion of the switching pieces within said body 1.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a method for combining the individual switchingpieces or switching slides 3 with a rail 4.
  • the pieces 3 are provided with studs 3" and a drill hole 15 for inserting into the rail 4.
  • the studs 3" engage into longitudinal holes 16 of the rail 4 and are kept in said rail by bolts or pins which are inserted through drill holes 17 of the rail 4 and the hole 15 of a switching piece 3.
  • FIG. 3 shows a toggle lever switch incorporating two switch pieces 3 and rails 4 which are inserted in a spring C3 strip 1.
  • the toggle lever switch includes a support 25, which serves as a lateral guide of the switching piece 3 'within the spring strip 1 and as support for a rod which is pivoted about the pivoting point 6.
  • the switching wipers of the rods 5 engage the drill holes of both pieces 3.
  • the handle is a normal toggle lever 18.
  • FIG. 4 shows another example of a toggle lever switch.
  • the switching rods 5' are pivoted at the point 7 and engage the switching piece 3 through rails 4 when actuating the lever 18 in the direction of the arrow. Said piece is shown inserted into the spring strip body 1.
  • FIG. 5 shows a twin toggle lever switch, distinguished in that two spring strip bodies 1 (I and II) are arranged side by side.
  • the toggle lever rod 5 i borne with its pivoting point 6 on a support arranged between both string strip bodies 1.
  • both switching pieces 3 within the two spring strip bodies 1 are actuated.
  • several toggle lever switches can be arranged side by side, depending on the length of the spring strip body.
  • FIG. 6 shows a mounting end of a spring strip 1 into which U-shaped parts 10 can be inserted which at both ends of the spring strip 1 take over the lateral guidance for a rail 4, equipped with switching pieces 3 (see FIG. 2).
  • FIG. 7 shows a spring strip body 1 in a perspective view.
  • mounting angles 20 are slid onto the spring strip body 1.
  • the spring strip body 1 can be fixed to a plate 19 (FIG. 8) having a recess through which the contacting end of the spring strip body 1 is accessible.
  • the individually shown angles 8 and 9 with the spring strip body 1 can be mounted to the plate 19, simultaneously with mounting of the spring strip body 1 to said plate, said angles are shown separately in FIG. 7.
  • the individual angles 8 and 9 serve for a snap-type fixing of a cover lid 11, protecting the switch mounting to the plate 19 against ingress of dust and against unintended touching.
  • Said cover 11 is provided at the point 12 with a pin which engages into a longitudinal hole 22 of the rail 4, so that the cover 11 pivoted at the point 21 of the angle piece 8 at tilting, i.e. when surmounting the stud 23 of the angle 9, can remove the switching piece 3 from the spring strip body 1, fixed in the rail 4 as described in FIG. 2.
  • the switching path In order to consider all contact sequences and contact combinations the switching path must be of sufiicient length. An extremely long switching path can be obtained in that the ribs arranged in the spring strip to limit theplugging 0r switching direction are partly omitted or respectively arranged deeper. The ribs themselves are parts of chamber limitation with the spring strip 1. Into each chamber a contact spring 13 is inserted. It
  • This plugging or switching method shows various advantages, for example, the individual parts required for the switch can be made in an automatic production process, because no adjusting work on those parts is necessary.
  • the individual switching pieces 3 can be made with the aid of patterns in the technique of printed circuits. With this construction of the switching pieces the individual contacting surfaces on both sides of the switching piece 3 can also be through-connected. In another production method the contacting surfaces on the switching piece can also consist of a through-going solid material, which protrudes on either end of the insulating material.
  • a switch for providing readily changeable connections comprising a spring strip body for receiving and holding contact springs, a plurality of contact springs held in said spring strip body, a switching piece engaging said contact springs, said switching piece including contact leads over a part of at least one surface for contacting said contact springs, a rail engaging and supporting said switching piece, a lever mechanism engaging and supporting said rail, and a switching handle connected to said lever mechanism for activating said lever mechanism to cause the switching piece to engage and disengage selected contact springs.
  • the switching piece includes two individual switching pieces for engaging said contact springs, and
  • a guide piece is placed between selected contact springs to limit lateral motion of the switching pieces.
  • a switch substantially as claimed in claim 1, in which the lever mechanism is constructed to simultaneously operate two adjacent but separate switching pieces.
  • a switch substantially as claimed in claim 1, in which guides are mounted on the mounting ends of the spring strip body to provide lateral guidance to the rail.
  • the lever mechanism is held by angle pieces fastened to the mounting angles.
  • said ribs are arranged at various depths to limit the plugging depth and to obtain a maximum switching path length.
  • the leads on the switching piece include solid contact pieces as leads arranged on either side of the switching piece.
  • the leads on the switching piece are interrupted in the plugging direction by suitable holes, depending on No references cited.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Slide Switches (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
  • Mounting Of Printed Circuit Boards And The Like (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
US441499A 1964-04-10 1965-03-22 Switch with variable contact elements Expired - Lifetime US3321600A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEST21953A DE1200412B (de) 1964-04-10 1964-04-10 Schalter mit veraenderlicher Kontaktteilbestueckung
DEST24552A DE1239759B (de) 1964-04-10 1965-10-23 Schalter mit veraenderlicher Kontaktteilbestueckung

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3321600A true US3321600A (en) 1967-05-23

Family

ID=25994237

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US441499A Expired - Lifetime US3321600A (en) 1964-04-10 1965-03-22 Switch with variable contact elements

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3321600A (xx)
BE (1) BE662287A (xx)
DE (1) DE1239759B (xx)
GB (1) GB1098924A (xx)
NL (1) NL6504345A (xx)
SE (1) SE310519B (xx)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3689715A (en) * 1971-09-21 1972-09-05 Ashley C Glenn Electrical switching device and circuit board therefor
US3767975A (en) * 1971-09-21 1973-10-23 A Glenn Electrical switching device and circuit board therefor
US4383155A (en) * 1981-06-18 1983-05-10 Eaton Corporation Pivoted-actuator switch with PC board switched light indicator

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3689715A (en) * 1971-09-21 1972-09-05 Ashley C Glenn Electrical switching device and circuit board therefor
US3767975A (en) * 1971-09-21 1973-10-23 A Glenn Electrical switching device and circuit board therefor
US4383155A (en) * 1981-06-18 1983-05-10 Eaton Corporation Pivoted-actuator switch with PC board switched light indicator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1098924A (en) 1968-01-10
BE662287A (xx) 1965-10-11
SE310519B (xx) 1969-05-05
DE1239759B (de) 1967-05-03
NL6504345A (xx) 1965-10-11

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