US3322910A - Reversible rotary switch unit - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1967 A. w. SCHUBRING REVERSIBLE ROTARY SWITCH UNIT Filed July 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet F/EJB INVENTOR.

ALL/N w. SCHUBR/NG y 0, 1967 A. w. SCHUBRING 3,322,910

REVERSIBLE ROTARY SWITCH UNIT I INVENTOR. ALL/N W. SCHUBR/NG F/E. 5 g y/ fi United States Patent The present invention relates to electric switch units and is more particularly concerned with an auxiliary switch unit which may be mounted in a plurality of positions adjacent the side walls of a basic switching device.

' While the switch unit as disclosed herein may be operated by a varietyof devices otherthan electromagnetically operated switches, it is particularly suited for use with the type illustrated in an application for United States patent, Scr. No. 473,299, concurrently filed herewith, which has beenassigned by the inventors Joseph J. Gribble, Kenneth J. Marien and 'Harold E. Whiting to the assignee of the present invention. The electromagnetically actuated switch, asdisclosed in the Gribble et al. application, is provided with a housing which has a pair of spaced parallel sidewalls extending perpendicular to a bottom wall of a base of the switch. The base positions a plurality of pairs of stationary contacts, so a carrier, supporting a plurality of movable contacts, causes the movable contacts to bridge the stationary contacts when the carrier is moved from a de-energized position to an energized position along a linear path perpendicular to the bottom wall of the base. The carrier, which is positioned in a cavity in the housing, has portions exposed through openings in the side walls of the switch as the carrier is moved along the linear path by a magnet motor which is positioned in the cavity above the base. The base is provided with suitable openings to provide for the passage of screws which secure the base to a mounting plate.

In its preferred form, the auxiliary switch unit according to the present invention may be mounted in either of two positions adjacent'either side of the electromagnetic switch so two switch units may be placed end to end along the sides of the electromagnetic switch. Also the switch units each have members which are reversible in their positions so two of the switch units maybe also mounted side by side to each other adjacent the side walls of the electromagnetic switch. Thus, if desired, four or more identical switch units may be mounted adjacent one side of the electromagnetic switch with two of the switch units facing in one direction and two of the switch units facing in the opposite direction and, if desired, an additional four or more identical switch units may be similarly mounted adjacent the other side wall of the electromagnetic switch for operation by the electromagnetic switch. Additionally, in its preferred form, the switch unit is provided with a rotatable actuator for movingthe movable contacts of the switch. .The actuator is arranged to be inverted on a pivot within an internal cavity of the switch unit housing so the switch unit may be converted from a switch having normally closed contacts to a switch having normally open contacts, and vice versa. The actuator of the switch unit, which is rotated by a member of an electromagnetic switch as the member moved in a linear path, is arranged so that when the contacts are moved to the closed contact condition, the vibrations of the electromagnetic switch will be ineffective to cause vibrations of the closed contacts of the switch unit.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present R invention to provide a switch unit with a rotary actuator which will permit the switch to face in either direction when the switch unit is mounted on either side of an electromagnetically operated switch.

An additional object is to provide a switch unit which may be mounted with other similar switch units adjacent either side of an electromagnetic switch so the switch units, which have rotatable actuators, may be actuated by a linearly movable member of the electromagnetic switch and to arrange the parts of the switch so the actuator may be inverted on a pivot so the switch will have either normally open or normally closed contacts which will be unaffected by vibrations of the electromagnetic switch when the contacts are in a closed circuit position.

A further object is to provide a housing for a switch unit with a front wall which is substantially that and perpendicular to a bottom wall of the switch unit so a first pair of switch units which have their front Walls adjacent each other may be mounted adjacent either side wall of an electromagnetically operated switch and to provide a recess in the front wall which extends into the'side walls of the switch unit and a detachable arm which may be positioned to extend in either of two directions on a rotary actuator is positioned in the recess so the switches may be operated by a linearly movable member of the electromagnetic switch when the switches are facing in opposite directions and to mount both of the switch units on a common mounting plate which is securable to a mounting plate for the electromagnetic switch and additionally, to arrange the side walls and arms of the switch units so an additional pair of switch units may be mounted adjacent the sides of the first pair of switch units so the additional switch units are actuated through the arms of the first pair of switch units by the member of the electromagnetic switch.

Further objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

FIG. lis a top plan view showing four auxiliary switch units according to the present invention as mounted adjacent the left side of an electromagnetic switch unit.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken in the direction of arrows 33 in FIG. 1 with a housing part of the auxiliary switch unit at the right removed.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of certain switch components used in the switch detached for purposes of identifying the various portions of the components.

FIG. 4A is a view of a detached arm for the auxiliary switch as viewed in the direction of arrow 4A in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the flexible member of the movable contact assembly as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the drawings, an electromagnetic switch 10, which, as shown, is of the type disclosed in the Gribble et al.

application, has a base 12 of insulating material which at nt d May 0, 1.

motor of the switch is energized. The member 16 carries a plurality of movable contacts, not shown, which are separated from the stationary contacts when the member 16 is in its quiescent position and are engaged with the stationary contacts to complete an electric circuit therebetween when the member 16 is in its operative position.

The member 16 has a ledge 20 which presents a surface 22 facing the bottom wall 18. The base 12 and the housing 14, when assembled, provide a pair of spaced side walls 24 and 26 for the electromagnetic switch 10. The side walls 24 and 26 are substantially flat and extend in planes perpendicular to the bottom wall 18. The portions of the base 12 which provides the side walls 24 and 26 have openings 28 therein. The openings 28 in the respective side walls 24 and 26 are arranged to expose and provide access to the bottom surface 22 from the exterior of the switch 10 when the member 16 moves from the quiescent position to the operated position.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of switch units, indicatedby numerals 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D are attached along the outer wall 24 of the electromagnetic switch 10. As each of the switch assemblies are identical, only one of the same will be described. While in FIG. 1 of the drawings the switch assemblies 30A-D are shown as being mounted adjacent the left side wall 24 of the electromagnetic switch 10, it is to be appreciated that identical switch units may be mounted adjacent the right side wall 26 of the electromagnetic switch 10 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Each of the switch assemblies 30AD includes a housing which is formed of a pair of mating housing parts 32 and 34 which preferably are formed of a suitable molded insulating material. In FIG. 3, the switch unit 30C exposes the exterior of the housing part 34 and the switch unit 30A exposes the interior of housing part 34. The housing parts 32 and 34 are formed to provide an internal cavity 36 which encloses at least portions of 'a stationary contact assembly 38, a movable contact assembly 40, a rotatable contact actuator 42 and a spring 44.

As most clearly seen in FIG. 4, the stationary contact assembly 38 includes a metal part 46 which has a contact portion 48 on one end and a terminal portion including a threaded opening on the other end which receives a screw 52. When tightened, the screw 52 urges a clamp 53 into clamping engagement with a bared end of an electrical conductor, not shown, The stationary contact assembly 38 is irnmovably positioned between the housing parts 32 and 34 by suitably located cars which are re- .ceived in suitably located and sized cavities in the housing parts 32 and 34 when the housing parts 32 and 34 are secured together by screws which are passed through bores 54 in the housing part 32 into threaded engagement with suitable threaded inserts, not shown, which are embedded in the molded material forming the housing part 34.

The movable contact assembly includes a rigid metal part 56 and a flexible blade-type metal part 58. The parts 56 and 58 are secured to each other, as by welding, at a junction 60 which is located at one end of each of the metal parts 56 and 58. The junction 60 is tightly received in a suitably located and sized recess formed in the molded material of the housing part 32 to maintain the portions of movable contact assembly 40 at the junction 60 in an immovable position. The rigid metal part 56,

V which provides another terminal for the switch unit 30A,

has a threaded opening at an end remote from the junctions 60 which is arranged to receive a screw 62 for the purpose of urging a clamp 64 into tight engagement with a bared end of an electrical conductor, not shown.

In this connection, as shown in FIG. 1, it should be noted the screws 52 and 62, as well as the clamps 53 and 64, are both accessible externally of a top wall 66 of the switch unit 10 for the purpose of making the connection with the electrical conductors. Further, for the purpose of providing the necessary electrical clearances without increasing the size of the switch assemblies 30A-D, only the housing part 32 is provided with a barrier portion 68 which extends upwardly toward the top wall 66. Thus when two switch assemblies, such as switch assemblies 30A and 30B, are interconnected side by side as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a manner which will be later described, the conductors as well as the clamps 53 and 64 and the screws 52 and 62 on the respective adjacent switches 30 will be separated by surfaces of the barrier portion 68 to provide adequate electrical clearances in accordance with code requirements which are known to those familiar with the art.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the flexible metal part 58 is preferably formed of a spring material, such as beryllium copper, to have the portion extending from the junction 60 oriented generally beneath the stationary contact assembly 38 and parallel to a base 70 of the cavity 36 in the housing part 32. As shown in FIG. 5, a portion 72 of the metal part 58 remote from the junction 60 is bifurcated to provide a pair of portions whereon a pair of contact portions indicated by the numerals 73 and 74 are secured.

The junction 60 is positioned and the part 58 is formed so the contact portions 73 and 74 are normally separate-d from the contact portion 48 and the portion 72 engages a stop 76 formed on the housing part 32. The part 58 has a portion intermediate the junction 60 and the portion whereon the contact portions 73 and 74 are carried which is downwardly bent to provide an inclined wall portion 78 which terminates in a rounded apex 80. The apex 80 separates the inclined wall portion 78 from a substantially straight extending arm. portion 82 which includes the portion 72 on which the contact portions 73 and 74 are secured.

Extending outwardly of a rear wall 84 of the housing part 32 into the cavity 36 is a cylindrical boss or pivot 86 which is located centrally in the cavity 36- and is formed to have a considerable diameter. The boss 86 provides a bearing journal for the rotatable actuator 42 which may be positioned in either of two invertible positions on the boss 86. The rotatable actuator 42 is preferably formed of molded insulating material which has a low coefficient of friction to reduce wear as a central bore 88 in a hub portion 90 of the rotatable actuator 42 rotates on the cylindrical boss 86. Extending outwardly of the hub portion into an entry opening or recess 94, which is formed in the housing parts 32 and 34 to expose the cavity 36 to the openings 28 in the exterior walls 24 and 26 of the switch unit 10, is an actuating arm 96 having an I-shaped free end portion. Positioned on opposite sides of the actuating arm 96 are a pair of stops 98 and 100, each of which have a surface respectively designed as 102 and 104 which extend in a plane defined by a radius of the bore 8 8 equidistantly on opposite sides of a centerline 106 defined by a diameter of the bore 88, and the center of the actuating arm 96. The rotatable actuator 42 also is provided with a pair of cylindrical surfaces 108' and 110 which are concentric to the hub portion 90 and extend from the stops 98 and in opposite directions from the centerline 106 to cam portions 112 and 114. The cam. portion 112 generally protrudes from the cylindrical surface 108 and is provided with a cam surface 116 and a dwell surface 118. The cam surface 116 provides an incline which extends outwardly from the cylindrical surface 108 and is located so the cam surface 116 is at least 90 clockwise of the centerline 106 in FIG. 4. The dwell surface 118 extends from the cam surface 116 in a clockwise direction to a radial wall 120 which is provided with a projection 122 which serves as a seat for one end of the spring 44 when the rotatable actuator 42 is in one of its two inverted positions on the cylindrical boss 86. The cam portion 114 similarly protrudes from the cylindrical surface and is provided with a wall 124 which is defined by a radius of the bore 88 along an axis which is at an angle less than 90 counterclockwise from the centerline 106 in FIG. 4. The wall 124 extends outwardly of the cylindrical surface 110 and terminates a sharp apex 126. The apex 126 is formed between the wall 124 and an inclined wall 128 which extends to a continuing portion of the cylindrical surface 110'. The cylindrical surface 110 at a location remote from the stop 100' terminates in aradial wall 130 which is provided with a projection 132 which serves as a seat for one end of the spring 44 when the rotatable actuator 42 is in another of its two inverted positions on the cylindrical boss 86. The rotatable actuator 42 is'provided with a plurality of openings 134 which are includedmerely to reduce the cross-sectional mass of the actuator 42 to conserve materials and shorten mo1ding cycle times, as is well knownto those skilled in the art.

The free end of the actuating arm 96 is provided with an actuating lever or arm 13 6 which may be mounted in either of two reversible positions on the arm 96. The arm 136, which is most clearly seen in FIGS. 4 and 4A, also is preferably formed of a molded insulating material to have an I-shaped opening 138 which acts as a socket to receive the I-shaped free end of the arm 96. Preferably, the rotata'ble actuator 42 and the actuating lever 136 are molded of a slightly resilient plastic material, such as Delrin, Teflon or combinations thereof, and the free end of the actuator arm 96 and the opening 138 are formed so the arm 136 is held in position on the arm 96 with a snap-on connection. Extending outwardly of the arm 136 along an axis parallel to the axis of the bore 88 when the arm 136 is positioned on the actuating arm 96 is a projection or pin 140 which is provided with a cylindrical outer configuration and arranged to extend beyond the confines ,of the switch assembly 30. Similarly, extending within the confines of the recess. 94 of the switch assembly 30, the arm 136 is provided witha socket142 which is axially aligned with the projection 140.

The housing parts 32 and 34 are each provided with a bottom wall 144 and a front wall 146' which extends vertical to the bottom wall 144. A portion of the front wall 146 and side walls 148 and 150 are removed to provide the recess 94. The recess 94 is arranged so the arm 136 is continuously positioned in the recess 94. This is accomplished by arranging the parts of the switch assembly 30 so the arm 136 does not have any portions thereof projecting beyond a plane defined by the vertical front wall 146. A portion of the exterior of a rear wall 152 of the housing parts 32 and 34 is inclined to provide a mounting foot portion 154 which is provided with a bore 155 to permit the passage of a mounting screw 156 into a threaded opening in a metal mounting plate 158. The mounting plate 158' has a tang or finger 160 extending upwardly from its upper surface toward the opening for screw 156. The tang or finger 160 is located to be received in a notch 162 which extends from the front wall 146 and which notch 162 is arranged so a portion 164 adjacent the bottom wall 144 of the housing part 32 is received beneath the tang 160 to maintain the front wall portion of the switch unit 30' assembled on the mounting plate 158 while the rear wall portion is maintained by the screw 156 which extends through the bore 155.

The housing part 34 is provided with a cylindrical opening which is aligned with the cylindrical boss 86 when the housing parts 32 and 34 are secured together. The cylindrical boss 86, which has a top surface arranged to be flush with the outer surface of the housing part 34 of the assembled housing parts 32 and 34, also has a bore 166 extending therethrough which at each end is provided with a hexagonally shaped counterbore 168.

The external surface of the housing part 32 is provided with a projection 170 which extends on the opposite side of the switch unit 30 from a recess in the housing part 34. Similarly, the housing part 34 has a projection 172 6 which extends on the opposite side wall of the switch unit 30 from a recess in the housing part 32.

When two identical switch units 30, indicated by letters A and B, are assembled side by side, the projection 172 on the housing part 34 will be received in the recess in the housing part 32. Similarly, the projection 170 on the housing part 32 will be received in the recess in the housing part 34 to prevent relative rotation between the switch assemblies 30A and 30B and is maintained by a screw and a nut which threadly receives the screw. When the parts are assembled, the head of the screw is received in the counterbore 168 on the housing part 34 side of the switch unit 30B while the nut is received in a similar counterbore on the housing part 32 side of the switch unit 30A. The screw has a length which will cause the 1 and 2. Further, when the switch units 30A and 30B are thus positioned, the projection of the unit 30B will be received in the socket 142 of the switch unit 30A to provide a driving connection between the arms 136 of both of the switch units 30A and 30B.

If desired, the mounting plate 158 may be provided with an additional tang or finger and opening which are located to face in the opposite direction on the mounting .plate 158 from the tang and opening which were used to mount the switch unit 30A. Further it will be observed that as the additional tang faces in the opposite direction, from the tang 160, this arrangement Will permit a switch unit, designated as 30C in FIG. 1, to be mounted on the mounting plate 158 in addition to the switch unit 30A. When the switch units 30A and30C are both mounted on the same mounting plate 158, the front walls 146 of the respective switch units 30A and 30C will be juxtaposed to each other. If the arms 136 of the respective switch units 30A and 300 are properly positioned on the rotary actuators 42 of the respective switch units 30A and 30C, then the projections 140 of the switch units 30A and 30C will extend in the same direction, e.g., to the right in FIG. 2. Further, when the switch units 30A and 30C are thus mounted on the mounting plate 158, the projections 140 will be slightly spaced on opposite sides of a centerline defined by the juxtaposed front walls 146 of the switch units 30A and 30C.

,It is also apparent that an additional switch unit, designated in FIG. 1 as 30D, may be mounted on switch unit 30C in the same manner as switch unit 30B is mounted on the switch unit 30A.

The mounting plate 158 is secura-ble to the mounting plate 13 by a pair of screws which are tightened into a pair of openings 182 in the plate 13. Thus as the switch units 30B and 30D are respectively mounted on the switch units 30A and 30C and as the switch units 30A and 300 are individually mounted on the mounting plate 158, all that is required to mount the four enumerated switch assemblies on the left side of the switch 10 is to tighten the two screws 180 in the pair of openings 182.

The arrangement of the parts previously described will cause the centerline defined by the front walls 146 to be aligned with a centerline of the member 16 ofthe switch 10 and the projections 140 of the switch assemblies to extend into openings 28 to. engage the bottom surface 22 of the ledge 20.

When the switch 10 is de-energized, the ledges 20 will be positioned at the upper portions of the openings 28. When the switch 10 is energized, the ledges 20 will move downwardly in the openings 28 toward the mounting plate 13. The projections 140 of the switch units 30A and 7 30C extendto be in the path of travel of the ledge 20 and as the ledges 20 are moved downwardly in response to the energization of the electromagnet switch 10, the projection 140 will be moved downwardly to actuate the switch units 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D in a manner to be now explained.

The rotatable actuator 42 may be mounted in either of two inverted positions on the cylindrical boss 86. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, when the rotatable actuator 42 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3, the spring 44, which has one end resting on the wall 130 and the other end resting on a spring seat 184 provided by a wall portion within the cavity 361by the housing part 32, constantly urges the rotatable actuator 42 in a clockwise direction to a position wherein the stop surface 102 engages a stop surface 186. The stop surface 186 is provided by a portion of the housing part 32. When the switch is de-energized, the stop surface 102 will engage the stop surface 186 and the rotatable actuator 42 will be positioned by the spring 44 so the cam surface 116 is out of engagement with the inclined wall 78 of the flexible blade 58, thus permitting the contact portions 73 and 74 to be separated from the contact portion 48.

When the switch 10 is energized so as to move the ledge 20 downwardly, the arm 136 moves in a downward direction thereby causing the rotatable actuator 42 to rotate counterclockwise about the cylindrical boss 86 against the force exerted by the spring 44. The rotation thus imparted to the rotatable actuator 42 causes the cam surface 116 to move into engagement with the inclined wall 78. A continued counterclockwise rotation of the rotatable actuator 42 ca ses the cam surface 116 to move the apex 8t) and contact portions 73 and 74 upwardly to a position wherein the contact portions 73 and 74 engage the contact portion 48. A further continued rotation in a counterclockwise direction of the rotatable actuator 42, after the contact portions 73 and 74 initially engage the contact portion 48, causes the cam surface 116 to move the apex 80 upwardly while the junction 60 and the contact portions 73 and 74 ar held against upward movement. This continued upward movement of the apex 80 causes the contact portions 73 and 74 to move across the surface of the contact portion 48 with a contact wiping action so the surface of the engaging contacts is in effect scrubbed to provide an improved electrical engagement therebetween. A further continued rotation of the rotatable actuator 42 in a counterclockwise direction causes the dwell surface 118 to move into engagement with the apex 80 so that for practicalpurposes, the upward movement of the apex 80 ceases and a constant engagement pressure is maintained between contact portions 73 and 74 and the contact portion 48. The parts of the switch unit 30 and the linear movement of the ledge 20 are arranged so the counterclockwise movement of the rotatable actuator 42 ceases when the apex 80 is positioned centrally of the dwell surface 118. Thus as the apex 80 is positioned on a surface which has a substantially constant radius, as

provided by the dwell surface 118, and as the contact portions 73 and 74 were previously pressed into tight engagement with the contact portion 48, slight movements of the rotatable actuator 42 as may be caused by vibrations or bouncing the member 16 after it has moved to its energized position will not disturb the engagement between the contact portions 73 and 74 and the contact portion 48. Further, it will be seen that the dwell surface 118 extends an appreciable distance over the circumference of the rotatable actuator 42. This arrangement will cause the contact portions 73 and 74 to engage the contact portion 48 of the switch unit 30 prior to the engagement of the contacts of the movable contacts with the stationary contacts of the switch 19 so that the circuits associated with the switch unit 30 will be energized prior to the energization of the circuits which are controlled by the switch 10.

When the switch 10 is de-energized, the ledge 20 moves upwardly as the contacts of the switch 10 separate to interrupt the circuits which are controlled by the switch 10. Again, because of the extent of the dwell surface 118, the contact portions 73 and 74 do not move to a separated position from the contact portion 48 until the contacts of the switch 10 are separated. Thus, the circui-ts controlled by the switch units 30 will not be inter rupted until the circuits controlled by the switch 10 are interrupted. 7

When the ledge 20 moves upwardly, as the switch 10 is de-energized, the spring 44 causes the rotatable actuator 42 to move in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the parts of the switch unit 30 are positioned as previously described. In connection with the configuration of the dwell surface 118, pref.- erably the portion of the dwell surface 118 adjacent the cam surface 116 is at a lesser distance from the center of the hub portion than the Portion of the dwell surface 118 which is adjacent the radial wall 130. This construction is included to minimize the friction between the apex 80 and the dwell surface 118 as the rotatable actuator 42 moves toward the de-energized position shown in FIG. 3.

When the rotatable actuator 42 is positioned in its second inverted position, not shown, the spring 44 has one end resting on the wall 120 and the other end resting on the spring seat 184 constantly urges the rotatable actuator 42 in a clockwise direction to a position wherein the stop surface 104 engages the stop surface 186. When the rotatable actuator 42 is thus positioned, the apex 126 engages the portion 82 of the flexible blade 58 to press the contact portions 73 and 74 into firm engagement with the contact portion 48.

When the switch 10 is energized so as to move the ledge 20 downwardly, the arm 136 moves in a downward direction thereby causing the rotatable actuator 42 to rotate counterclockwise about the cylindrical boss 86 against the force exerted by the spring 44. The rotation thus imparted to the rotatable actuator 42 moves the apex 126 out of engagement with the portion 82 of the flexible blade 58 and the contact portions 73 and 74 separate from the contact portion 48.

The separation of the contact portions 73 and 74 occurs prior to the engagement between the movable contacts and stationary contacts of the switch 10 so that the circuits controlled by the switch unit 30 will be interrupted prior to the energization of the circuits controlled by the switch 10.

When the ledge 20 moves upwardly as the switch 10 is de-energized, the spring 44 causes the rotatable actuator 42 to move in a clockwise direction wherein the parts of the switch assembly are positioned ,as previously described. During the initial clockwise movement of the rotatable actuator 42, the inclined wall 128 engages the portion 82 of the flexible blade 58 to thereby cause the contact portions 73 and 74 to move into engagement with the contact portion 48 prior to the engagement of the apex 126 with the portion 82. A further continued rotation of the rotatable actuator 42 causes apex 126 to engage the portion 82 and move the apex 80 of the flex ible blade 58 upwardly while the junction 60 and the contact portions 73 and 74 are held against upward movement. This continued upward movement of the apex 80 causes the contact portions 73 and 74 to move across the surface of the contact portion 48 with a contact wiping action for the purpose previously set forth.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch unit comprising in combination: a switch 9 housing having a pair of parallel spaced side walls and a flat front wall extending perpendicular to a bottom wall for selectively mounting a pair of the switch units side by side, end to end and two pairs of the switch units side by side and end to end in either of two reversible positions adjacent either of two side walls of a device which has portions of a movable member exposed through an opening in each of the side walls of the device as the member moves between two positions in a linear path along an axis perpendicular to the bottom wall of the switch unit, a recess in the front wall extending into the side walls of the switch unit to provide an entry into a cavity within the housing, an actuator rotatably mountable in either of two selectable invertible positions on a pivot within the cavity, a resilient means engaging the actuator for constantly urging the actuator toward one of two rotatable positions in the cavity when the actuator is mounted on the pivot in either of the two invertible positions, a pair of engageable contacts within the cavity with one of the contacts being stationary and the other of the contacts being biased to be separated from the stationary contact and provide an open contact condition and movable to engage the stationary contact and provide a closed contact condition, means onthe actuator located to engage the movable contact and maintain the movable contact in the closed contact condition when the actuator is mounted in one of its two inverted positions and is in the said one of its two rotatable positions, said means being located on the actuator to be separated from the movable contact whereby the movable contact is in the open contact condition when the actuator is moved to the other of the said two rotatable positions, a second means on the actuator located to be separated fromthe movable contact whereby the movable contact is in the contact open condition when the actuator is in the said one rotatable position and is mounted on the pivot in the other of the said two invertible positions, said second means also being located to be engageable with the movable contact for moving the movable contact to the closed contact condition when the actuator is moved from the said one rotatable position toward the other of the said two rotatable positions on the pivot, a projection on the actuator extending through the opening to present an end which is disposed in the recess of the housing and a member having a central portion detachably mountable in either of two positions on the end, said member having a pin and a socket extending in opposite directions from the central portion along an axis normal to the linear path of movement of the movable member of the device, said socket being formed to be entirely within the recess when the member is in either of the said two positions on the end of the projection, and said pin being formed to extend beyond either one of the two side walls of the switch unit to engage a socket of an adjacent switch unit and to extend into the opening of the device and engage the portion of the movable member exposed to the side wall of the device adjacent to the said one side wall of the switch unit.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the side walls of the switch unit has a pair of openings located on opposite sides of the pivot and the actuator has portions visible through the openings to indicate the selected inverted position of the actuator in the cavity.

3.'The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the movable contact and the stationary contact are each connected to a wire connecting terminal which is exposed exterior to a top wall of the switch unit.

4. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the movable contact includes a flexible blade which has an end secured to a stationary terminal which has a portion exposed externally of a top wall of the switch unit and a free end which is bifurcated to provide a support for a pair of contact portions which are engageable with the surface which inclined surface is located on the actuator to move the movable contact to the closed contact condition and the dwell surface is located on the actuator to maintain the closed contact condition when the actuator is in the said other of the two rotatable positions for preventing transmission of vibrations of the movable member of the device to the movable and stationary contacts when the contacts are in the closed contact condition.

6. An electric switch unit comprising: a housing having a bottom wall and a front wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall, said front wall having a recess therein which provides an entry into an internal cavity within the housing, a stationary contact assembly and a movable contact assembly positioned within the cavity adjacent a top wall of the housing, said stationary contact assembly having a stationary contact portion positioned within the cavity and a terminal portion disposed external of the top wall of the housing, said movable contact assembly having a terminal portion disposed externally of the top wall, a movable flexible blade within the cavity, said blade having a fixed end connected to the terminal portion, a movable free end and a flexible portion intermediate the fixed end and movable end, and a movable contact portion on the free end positioned to engage the stationary contact portion when the intermediate portion is stressed to move the movable contact portion from a normal position wherein the movable contact portion is spaced from the stationary contact portion to an. actuated position wherein the movable contact portion is in engagement with the stationary contact portion, -a bearing centrally located within the cavity, an actuator positionable in either of two invented positions on the bearing, said actuator having: a first stop engageable with a fixed stop on the housing for limiting rotation of the actuator in one direction on the hearing when the actuator is in a first of its two inverted positions, a second stop engageable with the fixed stop for limiting rotation of the ac-tuator in said one direction when the actuator is in a second of its two inverted positions on the bearing, a generally cylindrical outer surface extending in opposite directions from the first and second stops, an apex extending outwardly of the cylindrical surface engageable with the intermediate portion of the flexible blade for urging the movable contact portion into engagement with the stationary contact, portion when the first stop engages the fixed stop, a cam surface and a dwell surface extending outwardly of the cylindrical surface, said cam surface extending outwardly of the cylindrical surface, said cam surface extending from the cylindrical surface to the dwell surface providing an incline for engaging the intermediate portion when the actuator is moved in a direction opposite said one direction from a first position wherein the second stop engages the fixed stop to a second position wherein the intermediate portion is engaged by the dwell surface for maintaining an engagement between the movable contact portion and the stationary contact portion, resilient means for constantly urging the first and second stop into engagement with the fixed stop when the actuator is in its first and second inverted positions and a member detachably mounted in either of two positions on a portion of the actuator extending through the entry into the recess for moving the actuator from the first position to the second position when an external operating force is applied to the member.

7. An electric switch unit comprising: a housing having a bottom wall, a front wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall, and a pair of spaced parallel side walls perpendicular to the front and bottom walls, said front wall having a recess therein which extends into the side walls to provide an entry into an internal cavity Within the housing, a stationary contact assembly and a movable contact assembly positioned within the cavity, said stationary contact assembly having a stationary contact portion positioned within the cavity, said movable contact assembly having a movable flexible blade having a fixed end, a movable free end and a flexible portion intermediate the fixed end and movable end, and a movable contact portion on the free end positioned to engage the stationary contact portion when the intermediate portion is stressed to move the movable contact portion from a normal position wherein the movable contact portion is spaced from the stationary contact portion to an actuated position wherein the movable contact portion is in engagement with the stationary contact portion, a bearing centrally located within the cavity, an actuator selectively positionable in either of two inverted positions on the bearing, said actuator having: a first stop engageable with a fixed stop on the housing for limiting rotation of the actuator in one direction on the bearing when the actuator is in a first of its two inverted positions, a second stop engageable with the fixed stop for limiting rotation of the actuator in said one direction when the actuator is in a second of its two inverted positions on the bearing, a generally cylindrical outer surface extending in opposite directions from the first and second stops, an apex extending outwardly of the cylindrical surface engageable with the intermediate portion of the flexible blade for urging the movable contact portion into engagement with the stationary contact portion when the first stop engages the fixed stop, a cam surface and a dwell surface extending outwardly of the cylindrical surface, said cam surface extending from the cylindrical surface to the dwell surface providing an incline for engaging the intermediate portion when the actuator is moved in a direction opposite said one direction from a first position wherein the second stop engages the fixed stop to a second position wherein the intermediate portion is engaged by the dwell surface for maintaining an engagement between the movable contact portion and the stationary contact portion, resilient means for constantly urging the first and second stop into engagement with the fixed stop when the actuator is in its first and second inverted positions and a member detachably mounted in either of two positions on a portion of the actuator extending through the entry into the recess for moving the actuator from the first position to the second position when an external operating force is applied to the member.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one of the side walls has a pair of openings located on opposite sides of the bearing and the actuator has portions visible through the openings to identify the selected inverted position of the actuator in the cavity.

9. The combination as recited in claim 7 wherein the inclined surface and the dwell surface are located on the actuator so the inclined surface moves the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact as the actuator is moved to the said second position and the dwell surface maintains the engagement between the stationary and the movable contacts when the actuator is in the said second position.

10. The combination as recited in claim '7 wherein the member has a central portion which has a snap action connection on the portion of the actuator and the member is formed to have a pin and socket extending in opposite directions from the central portion along an axis normal to the side walls, said socket being formed to be entirely within the recess when the member is in either of the two positions on the actuator and said pin being formed to extend beyond one of the side walls to be received in the socket of a similar switch unit when a pair of switch units are mounted side by side and to be moved by an external operator for the switch unit which operator applies a force externally along an axis parallel to the sidewall beyond which the pin projects.

11. A switching assembly comprising: a basic electromagnetic switch including: a housing having a pair of parallel spaced fiat side walls extending perpendicular to a bottom wall, each of said side walls having an elongated centrally located opening extending along an axis perpendicular to the bottom wall for exposing an internal cavity within the housing, a member linearly movable along the axis from one position toward the bottom wall to a second position, thereby causing a plurality of movable contacts to move into bridging engagement with a plurality of pairs of stationary contacts when the member is in the second position, said member having portions thereof exposed through the openings in the side walls as the member moves to the two positions, and a mounting plate secured to the bottom wall for securing the electromagnetic switch to a panel, and a plurality of individual switch units, each of said switch units including: a housing having a pair of parallel spaced flat sidewalls and a flat front wall extending perpendicular to a bottom wall, a recess in the front wall extending into the side walls of the switch unit to provide an entry into an internal cavity within the switch unit, a stationary contact within the cavity of the switch unit, a movable contact within the cavity flexible means supporting the movable contact for movement from a position wherein the movable contact is separated from the stationary contact to provide an open contact condition to a position wherein the movable contact engages the stationary contact to provide a closed contact condition, a rotatable actuator selectively positionable in either of two inverted positions on a pivot within the cavity of the switch unit, means for urging the actuator in one direction of rotation to a first predetermined position when the actuator is in either of the inverted positions, first means on the actuator engageable with the flexible means for maintaining the closed contact condition when the actuator is in the first position and in one of the two inverted positions, said first means being disengaged from the flexible means when the actuator is in the said one inverted position and is rotated to a second position, whereby the contacts are in the open contact condition, a second means located on the actuator to be separated from the flexible means when the actuator is in the first position and is inverted to a second of the two inverted positions, said second means being engageable with the flexible means for moving the contacts to the closed contact condition when the actuator is in the second position, a member having a central portion detachably mounted in either of two positions on a portion of the actuator extending from the cavity through the entry into the recess, said member having a pin and socket extending in opposite directions from the central portion along an axis normal to the side walls of the switch unit when the member is mounted on the actuator, said socket being formed to be entirely within the recess when the member is in either of its two positions and said pin being formed to extend beyond one of the side walls when the member is in either of its two positions and be received in a socket of a similar switch which has a socket facing and a side wall juxtaposed to a side wall of the switch beyond which the pin extends, said pin also extending beyond the side wall of the switch unit to engage the exposed portion of the member through the opening in one of the side walls of the electromagnetic switch for being moved by the exposed portion when the side wall of the switch unit beyond which the pin extends is juxtaposed to the side wall of the electromagnetic switch, and a plate secured to the bottom wall of a pair of switch units when the front walls of the pair of switch units are in juxtaposition, means for securing the plate to the mounting plate of the electromagnetic switch for positioning one of the side walls of each of the pair of switch units adjacent one side wall of the electromag netic switch so the pins of the pair of switch units are in engagement with the portion of the member of the elec- .tromagnetic switch.

12. The combination as recited in claim 11 wherein an additional pair of switch units which have their front walls juxtaposed to each other are mounted on the side walls of the pair of switch units which are remote from 13 a the electromagnetic switch so a pin on each of the additional pair of switch units extends into a socket of the pair of switch units which are mounted on the electromagnetic switch.

13. The combination as recited in claim 11 wherein the mounting plate for the switch units and :the electromagnetic switch' have means whereby the switch units may be mounted adjacent either side wall of the electromagnetic switch.

14. The combination as recited in claim 11 wherein the mounting plate for the switch unit has a pair of opl4 positely facing tongues which are received in additional recesses formed in the front walls of the switch units.

0 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,306 11/ 1941 Thompson 200-6 FOREIGN PATENTS 696,607 10/1964 Canada.

10 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SWITCH UNIT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SWITCH HOUSING HAVING A PAIR OF PARALLEL SPACED SIDE WALLS AND A FLAT FRONT WALL EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR TO A BOTTOM WALL FOR SELECTIVELY MOUNTING A PAIR OF THE SWITCH UNITS SIDE BY SIDE, END TO END AND TWO PAIRS OF THE SWITCH UNITS SIDE BY SIDE AND END TO END IN EITHER OF TWO REVERSIBLE POSITIONS ADJACENT EITHER OF TWO SIDE WALS OF A DEVICE WHICH HAS PORTIONS OF A MOVABLE MEMBER EXPOSED THROUGH AN OPENING IN EACH OF THE SIDE WALLS OF THE DEVICE AS THE MEMBER MOVES BETWEEN POSITIONS IN A LINEAR PATH ALONG AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE SWITCH UNIT, A RECESS IN THE FRONT WALL EXTENDING INTO THE SIDE WALLS OF THE SWITCH UNIT TO PROVIDE AN ENTRY INTO A CAVITY WITHIN THE HOUSING, AN ACTUATOR ROTATABLY MOUNTABLE IN EITHER OF TWO SELECTABLE INVERTIBLE POSITIONS ON A PIVOT WITHIN THE CAVITY, A RESILIENT MEANS ENGAGING THE ACTUATOR FOR CONSTANTLY URGING THE ACTUATOR TOWARD ONE OF TWO ROTATABLE POSITIONS IN THE CAVITY WHEN THE ACTUATOR IS MOUNTED ON THE PIVOT IN EITHER OF THE TWO INVERTIBLE POSITIONS, A PAIR ENGAGEABLE CONTACTS WITHIN THE CAVITY WITH ONE OF THE CONTACTS BEING STATIONARY AND THE OTHER OF THE CONTACTS BEING BIASED TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE STATIONARY CONTACT AND PROVIDE AN OPEN CONTACT CONDITION AND MOVABLE TO ENGAGE THE STATIONARY CONTACT AND PROVIDE A CLOSED CONTACT CONDITION, MEANS ON THE ACTUATOR LOCATED TO ENGAGE THE MOVABLE CONTACT AND MAINTAIN THE MOVABLE CONTACT IN THE CLOSED CONTACT CONDITION WHEN THE ACTUATOR IS MOUNTED IN ONE OF ITS TWO INVERTED POSITIONS AND IS IN THE SAID ONE OF ITS TWO ROTATABLE POSITIONS, SAID MEANS BEING LOCATED ON THE ACTUATOR TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE MOVABLE CONTACT WHEREBY THE MOVABLE CONTACT IS FROM THE OPEN CONTACT CONDITION WHEN THE ACTUATOR IS MOVED TO THE OTHER OF THE SAID TWO ROTATABLE POSITIONS, A SECOND MEANS ON THE ACTUATOR LOCATED TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE MOVAVBLE CONTACT WHEREBY THE MOVABLE CONTACT IS IN THE

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