US3349205A - Snap action device - Google Patents

Snap action device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3349205A
US3349205A US450996A US45099665A US3349205A US 3349205 A US3349205 A US 3349205A US 450996 A US450996 A US 450996A US 45099665 A US45099665 A US 45099665A US 3349205 A US3349205 A US 3349205A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
vane
ribbon
ribs
deformation
flasher
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
US450996A
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English (en)
Inventor
Taylor Sidney
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.)
Edison International Inc
Original Assignee
Wagner 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
Application filed by Wagner Electric Corp filed Critical Wagner Electric Corp
Priority to US450996A priority Critical patent/US3349205A/en
Priority to GB17580/66A priority patent/GB1116915A/en
Priority to FR59067A priority patent/FR1517708A/fr
Priority to DE19661590721 priority patent/DE1590721B2/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3349205A publication Critical patent/US3349205A/en
Assigned to STUDEBAKER-WORTHINGTON, INC. reassignment STUDEBAKER-WORTHINGTON, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: WAGNER ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Assigned to EDISON INTERNATONAL, INC. reassignment EDISON INTERNATONAL, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: STUDEBAKER-WORTHINGTON, INC., A CORP. OF DE
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
    • H01H61/00—Electrothermal relays
    • H01H61/06—Self-interrupters, i.e. with periodic or other repetitive opening and closing of contacts
    • H01H61/066—Self-interrupters, i.e. with periodic or other repetitive opening and closing of contacts making use of an extensible wire, rod or strips

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an improved vane type snap action device and more particularly to an improved flasher particularly adapted for control of automobile signal lamps.
  • the new device is relatively insensitive to load change and has excellent voltage response.
  • the figure of merit in a series type flasher is the ratio of the on period of the flasher at eleven volts to the on period of the flasher at fifteen volts.
  • the figure of merit is the ratio of the off period of the flasher, that is, when the current through the lamps is insuflicient to light the lamps, at eleven volts, to the off period of the flasher at fifteen volts.
  • F.M. figure of merit
  • a device which vhas an F.M. of no greater than three is acceptable to automobile manufacturers.
  • Applicants invention provides a snap action device which has a low figure of merit, no detectable arcing between the contacts, will not drift from set tolerances after being in use for long periods of time and which can be made to operate independent of load.
  • applicants device comprises a vane of thin resilient material and of any desired shape which has a deformation therein tending to cause the vane to curve or bend about one axis, and an expansible pull element which is connected at its ends under tension to the vane and which when cold holds the vane in a bowed or buckled position in which it is curved about one axis 90 from the axis of the deformation.
  • the initial or inherent deformation has generally been introduced by bending the vane over a mandrel or by forming continuous or discontinuous ribs therein along one axis. The deformations in such prior art vanes caused the vane, before the ribbon was attached, to have a generally uniform curvature about the axis of deformation.
  • applicants novel vane is so deformed that the curvature of the vane introduced by the deformation is maximum adjacent the periphery and minimum in the central area of the vane. This change in initial deformation results in the superior operation of applicants device.
  • the initial deformation yielding the above described variations in curvature can be introduced by providing ribs on the vane which taper, either in depth or in width,
  • the new vane is assembled to the flasher by first bowing or buckling the vane about an axis at right angles to the deformation formed by the ribs and then attaching a pull ribbon or wire to the sides of the vane to hold the vane in the buckled position.
  • the assembly of vane and ribbon is supported by a bracket attached either to the vane or to the ribbon.
  • movable contact may be mounted either on the ribbon or on the vane.
  • the contact is mounted on the vane if the support is attached to the ribbon and conversely if the support is attached to the vane, the contact is mounted on the ribbon.
  • both the support and the movable contact may be mounted on the vane.
  • the presently preferred use of the vane is in a shunt type flasher utilizing a heater winding about the pull ribbon.
  • the contacts are normally open and when the circuit is closed, current flows through the heater to the load, the resistance of the heater being high enough to prevent illumination of the lamps when the load is a lamp load.
  • the current through the heater heats the pull ribbon, causing it to expand and permit the vane to snap toward the position to which it is biased by the ribs. In this position, the contacts are closed and the heater is shunted. The full voltage is thereupon supplied to the lamps and they light.
  • the pull ribbon is attached at its ends to opposite edges of the vane and embossed platforms are formed in the vane adjacent the points of attachment of the ribbon to the vane.
  • the platforms insure clearance for the heater winding when the ribbon is cold, allowing the heater to touch the vane in the area between the platforms when the ribbon is hot. This arrangement improves the figure of merit of the device.
  • vane insures rapid cooling of the pull ribbon by the relatively cooler vane, resulting in the vane returning quickly to the position wherein it is buckled about an axis 90 to the deformation introduced by the ribs. This permits operation at a lower average temperature and improves the figure of merit.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vane formed with ribs tapering in height.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of a vane formed with a rib tapering in width.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is a plan view of a vane formed with interrupted ribs tapering in height and showing a ribbon mounted on and overlying the convex side of the deformation introduced by the ribs.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a vane formed with interrupted ribs tapering in width and showing a ribbon mounted on the vane and overlying the convex side of the deformation formed by the ribs.
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 88 of FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 9 is a front view of a shunt type flasher incorporating a vane of the type of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 10 is a rear view of the shunt type flasher of FIG. 9.
  • FIGS. 11 and 12 are exaggerated diagrammatic views showing the shunt type flasher in the off and on position, respectively.
  • FIG. 13 is a front view of a series type flasher incorporating a vane similar to the vane of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 14 is a rear view of the series type flasher of FIG. 13.
  • FIGS. 15 and 16 are exaggerated diagrammatic views of the series type flasher in the on and off position, respectively.
  • FIGS. 1 through 8 inclusive show various arrangements and constructions of the vane of the invention.
  • a rectangular vane of a suitable resilient electrically conducting material such as :as spring steel is formed with tapering ribs 32 and with two small holes 34 symmetrically placed with respect to the short axis and lying along the long axis of the vane.
  • a suitable resilient electrically conducting material such as :as spring steel is formed with tapering ribs 32 and with two small holes 34 symmetrically placed with respect to the short axis and lying along the long axis of the vane.
  • the ribs are formed higher at the sides 36 of the vane and then gradually taper to a minimum height at the holes 34. The degree of taper will depend on the thickness of the vane, the material used to make the vane, and the operating current of the device in which the vane is used.
  • a vane of one inch by one-half inch of spring steel with ribs tapering from a height of four or five and a half thousandths of an inch to three or three and a half thousandths ofan inch is recommended although other combinations of rib height and vane dimension can be employed.
  • the provision of the two holes 34 is not essential as a single larger hole could be provided or the center of the vane could be imperforate, there are certain advantages in the provision of the two holes.
  • the two holes increase the weakening of the vane in the central area which, as heretofore described, is advantageous in insuring rapid make and break. However, depending upon where a contact is to be mounted, it is advisable not to have the central section of the vane too weak.
  • the movable contact is secured adjacent the longer side of the vane and in the central area of such longer side. The area of the vane intermediate the two holes provides the required strength in the central area to which the contact in the preferred embodiment is secured.
  • a further advantage of the two-hole construction is that it permits the production machines to use aligning pins during the manufacturing process.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show a square shaped vane 38 provided with ribs 40 which are of uniform depth but are wider at the ends 42 of the vane 38 and taper to a minimum width at a central hole 44.
  • the width of each rib 40 at the outer end thereof is about one quarter or one third of the width of the vane and at the inner end is about one tenth of the width of the vane but wider or narrower ribs could be employed.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 show a circular vane 52 in which four ribs 54 having a tapered height are symmetrically place-d about one diameter of the vane so as to form a deformation along the said diameter.
  • the ribs are formed as in FIG. 1 but terminate short of the periphery of the vane.
  • the height of each rib 54 is maximum at its outer end and gradually tapers to a minimum in the central portion of the vane.
  • a ribbon 56 is attached at its ends under tension to the periphery of the vane 52 and overlies the convex side of the deformation formed by the ribs and when cold holds the vane in buckled position, that is, bowed about an axis 90 to the axis of the deformation.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 show an oval shaped vane 58 in which four ribs 60 are formed therein so as to form a permanent deformation along the minor diameter of the vane.
  • the ribs are concave as viewed in FIG. 7, are of uniform depth but wider nearer the periphery of the vane, and taper to a zero width adjacent the central region of the vane.
  • the ribs 60 are the type shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 except they do not extend to the edge of the vane or terminate at an opening in the vane.
  • a ribbon 62 is attached at its ends to the periphery of the vane and overlies the minor diameter of the vane on the convex side of the deformation formed by the ribs.
  • a shunt type flasher having a vane of the type of FIG. 1.
  • the vane 62 formed with ribs 64 of tapering depth is supported by a post 66 which is welded at 68 to the vane adjacent the center of a longer side thereof.
  • the vane is formed with two embossed platforms 70 at opposite ends of a diagonal.
  • a ribbon 72 overlies the platforms 70 and is attached at its ends to the corners of the vane. The ribbon overlies the vane on the convex side of the deformation caused by the ribs and when cold holds the vane bowed about an axis 90 to the direction of the ribs.
  • An insulated heating coil 74 is wound around the ribbon and fastened at one end to the ribbon or vane and at the other end to a post 76 which holds a stationary contact 77. It is important to use an insulation for the coil which will not make the wire so stiff that it is difficult to wind, will not be so brittle as to break, or so weak that it does not give suflicient insulation. Further, the insulation must be able to withstand constant heating and cooling without deteriorating. Also the insulation preferably should have high heat conductivity and low electrical conductivity. Applicant has found that a suitable insulation material for use on the coil is made from a polymer of amide-imide. The A-rnoco Co. sells this par ticular insulation under the service mark A1420.
  • the embossed plat forins 70 will prevent the coil 74 from contacting the 'vane when the vane is in the buckled position.
  • the platforms 70 will not prevent the Eoil from contacting the vane between the platforms when the ribbon has expanded and the vane has snapped toward the position to which it is biased by the deformation.
  • the coil being in contact with a larger cooler body will give up its heat rapidly, allowing the vane to return quickly to the buckled position. As explained before, rapid cooling improves the figure of merit. In the buckled position, when the coil is out of contact with the vane, most of the heat generated by the coil will be con-ducted to the ribbon. This increases the sensitivity of the flasher since a smaller current can be used for heating the coil.
  • closure of thedirectional switch causes current to flow from the battery through post 66, vane 62, coil 74""and second' post 76.
  • the battery connection is indicated at X and the load connection at L.
  • As current passes through the coil it heats the coil which in turn heats the ribbon until the ribbon expands suificiently to allow the vane to snap to contact closing position. (See FIG. 12.)
  • the contacts are closed, current flows from the battery through post 66, vane 62, contact 78 mounted on the vane, contact 77 carried by post 66 and post 76.
  • FIGS. 13 and 14 A series type flasher is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 incorporating a vane similar to the vane of FIG. 3.
  • the vane 82 has a pair of ribs 84 of uniform depth and whose width are greatest at the ends 90 of the vane and are tapered to a point short of the center 92. of the vane.
  • the ribs are concave as viewed in FIG. 13.
  • a ribbon 94 is attached at its ends to the sides of the vane and extends parallel to the ribs. Theribbon is attached while the vane is bowed about an axis 90 to the longitudinal axis.
  • a post 96 is attached to the ribbon at 98 and supports the ribbon and vane.
  • a second post 100 carries a fixed contact 102 which will meet with a contact 104 carried by the vane 82 when the pull ribbon is cold.
  • the series type flasher is arranged in the conventional automobile circuit so that when the directional switch is closed, current from the battery flows through post 96, ribbon 94, vane 82, contact 104 carried by the vane and contact 102 mounted on post 96 and post 100 (see FIG.
  • the current is suflicient to heat the ribbon to the point where its expansion permits the vane to snap toward the position to which it is biased by the deformation introduced by the ribs 84, opening contacts 102 and 104.
  • the contacts When the contacts are open, no current flows through the vane or the ribbon and the ribbon will cool. With the cooling and attendant contraction of the ribbon, the vane will snap back into contact closing position.
  • the alternate opening and closing of the contacts with the attendant turning off and on of the signal lamps, will continue as long as the directional switch is closed.
  • FIGS. 1 and 9 have two central holes been shown in the vane. Obviously two holes could be employed in the constructions illustrated in the other figures of the drawings or conversely the embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9 could be provided with a single hole at the central region or with no holes. The same is true of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7 and 13. Also, although the ribs have been shown and described as tapering either in height or in width, obviously ribs tapering both in height and in width could be employed. Other variations will occur to those skilled in the art.
  • a snap action device for control of directional signals of automotive vehicles of the type wherein a deformed vane of resilient conducting material snaps back and forth between circuit controlling positions to interrupt the flow of current to the automobile signal lamps in response to expansion and contraction of a pull ribbon secured at spaced points to the vane
  • the improvement which comprises at least one rib formed in the vane the said rib being concave relative to one surface of the vane and convex relative to the second opposite surface of the vane and tapering in at least one dimension from a maximum adjacent the periphery of the vane to a minimum adjacent the central portion of the vane to provide a deformation in the vane along one axis which biases the vane to make it monostable and thereby cause it always to seek and assume one circuit controlling position when the pull ribbon expands, said vane snapping to a second circuit controlling position in which the vane is curved along an axis angularly disposed to said first axis and at opposite curvature to said first deformation when the ribbon contracts.
  • a vane type flasher for control of directional signals of automotive vehicles comprising a vane having a deformation therein tending to bow the vane about one axis, said deformation comprising a rib which is concave relative to one surface of the vane and convex relative to the second opposite surface of the vane having a maximum dimension adjacent opposite portions of the periphery of the vane and a minimum dimension in the central area of the vane, the said deformation being effective to provide a bias in the vane which makes it monostable whereby it always seeks to return toward the position of the said deformation, a heat expansible pull means secured at its ends to parts of said vane adjacent the periphery and overlying the surface of the vane which is made convex by the deformation, said pull means when cold bowing the vane about an axis an-gularly disposed to said one axis and when heated permitting the vane to snap to opposite curvature about said one axis toward the position given to the vane by the said deformation, and

Landscapes

  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
  • Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Rotary Pumps (AREA)
US450996A 1965-04-26 1965-04-26 Snap action device Expired - Lifetime US3349205A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US450996A US3349205A (en) 1965-04-26 1965-04-26 Snap action device
GB17580/66A GB1116915A (en) 1965-04-26 1966-04-21 Snap action electric device
FR59067A FR1517708A (fr) 1965-04-26 1966-04-26 Dispositif électro-mécanique à relaxation, plus particulièrement destiné aux appareils de signalisation d'automobiles
DE19661590721 DE1590721B2 (de) 1965-04-26 1966-04-26 Schnappvorrichtung, insbesondere fuer blinkeranlagen von kraftfahrzeugen

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US450996A US3349205A (en) 1965-04-26 1965-04-26 Snap action device

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US3349205A true US3349205A (en) 1967-10-24

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US450996A Expired - Lifetime US3349205A (en) 1965-04-26 1965-04-26 Snap action device

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Country Link
US (1) US3349205A (nl)
DE (1) DE1590721B2 (nl)
FR (1) FR1517708A (nl)
GB (1) GB1116915A (nl)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3543208A (en) * 1968-07-05 1970-11-24 Dynamic Ind Snap action switch
US3711808A (en) * 1970-10-28 1973-01-16 Mitsubadenkiseisak Usho Co Ltd Snap operating device

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1895590A (en) * 1930-06-26 1933-01-31 Spencer Thermostat Co Snap acting device
US1895591A (en) * 1931-02-16 1933-01-31 Gen Plate Co Snap acting device
US1988345A (en) * 1933-07-17 1935-01-15 Sidney P Vaughn Snap action device
US2299562A (en) * 1940-03-26 1942-10-20 Wilcolator Co Snap acting device and method of making the same
US2615106A (en) * 1951-07-21 1952-10-21 Schmidinger Joseph Snap action device
US3174013A (en) * 1961-08-25 1965-03-16 Tung Sol Electric Inc Bistable thermo-responsive device
US3218415A (en) * 1960-12-20 1965-11-16 Tung Sol Electric Inc Thermally actuated snap action device

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1895590A (en) * 1930-06-26 1933-01-31 Spencer Thermostat Co Snap acting device
US1895591A (en) * 1931-02-16 1933-01-31 Gen Plate Co Snap acting device
US1988345A (en) * 1933-07-17 1935-01-15 Sidney P Vaughn Snap action device
US2299562A (en) * 1940-03-26 1942-10-20 Wilcolator Co Snap acting device and method of making the same
US2615106A (en) * 1951-07-21 1952-10-21 Schmidinger Joseph Snap action device
US3218415A (en) * 1960-12-20 1965-11-16 Tung Sol Electric Inc Thermally actuated snap action device
US3174013A (en) * 1961-08-25 1965-03-16 Tung Sol Electric Inc Bistable thermo-responsive device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3543208A (en) * 1968-07-05 1970-11-24 Dynamic Ind Snap action switch
US3711808A (en) * 1970-10-28 1973-01-16 Mitsubadenkiseisak Usho Co Ltd Snap operating device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1590721A1 (de) 1970-05-14
DE1590721C3 (nl) 1973-10-11
DE1590721B2 (de) 1973-03-29
GB1116915A (en) 1968-06-12
FR1517708A (fr) 1968-03-22

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: STUDEBAKER-WORTHINGTON, INC., ILLINOIS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WAGNER ELECTRIC CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:003984/0757

Effective date: 19801229