US3359388A

US3359388A - Control devices and valve constructions therefor or the like

Info

Publication number: US3359388A
Application number: US547099A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy W Houser; Louis P Morris; Sam E Chenaur
Original assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Current assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Priority date: 1962-06-12
Filing date: 1966-02-10
Publication date: 1967-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-19

Description

R. w. HOUSER ET AL 3,359,388

Dec. 19, 1967 CONTROL DEVICES AND VALVE CONSTRUCTIONS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Original Filed June 12, 1962 FIG-4 United States Patent ()fiice 3,359,388 CONTROL DEVICES AND VALVE CONSTRUC- TIONS THEREFOR GK THE LIKE Roy W. Houser, Orange, Louis P. Morris, Garden Grove, and Sam E. Chenaur, Anaheim, Calif., assignors to Robertshaw Controls Company, a corporation of Delaware Original application June 12, 1962, Ser. No. 202,003, now Patent No. 3,237,646, dated Mar. 1, 1966. Divided and this application Feb. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 547,099

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-83) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE An electrical switch construction having a pair of switch arm means respectively carrying electrical contacts and having a natural bias to tend to always place the contacts into electrical contact with each other, the switch construc tion means including a flexible member disposed between This application is a divisional patent application under Rule 147 of itscopending parent application, SN. 202,003, filed June 12, 1962, now US. Patent No. 3,237,646.

This invention relates to a pneumatically operated electrical 'switch'construction wherein an expansible and contractible element opens and "closes such switch construction.

In particular, one embodiment of the switch construction of this invention includes a pair of switch arm means disposed in acasing and normally being urged toward each other by the natural resiliency of the switch arm means, the switch arm means respectively carrying a pair of switch contacts that will normally be disposed into electrical contact with each other to complete a circuit through the switch construction. An expansible member is disposed in the casing between the switch arm means and is operatively interconnected to the switch arm means in such a manner that the switch arm means are spread apart to break the electrical circuit when the expansible member is expanded and will permit the switch arm means to move toward each other to close the circuit when the expansible member contracts.

Accordingly, an objectof this invention is to provide an improved pneumatically operated switch construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this "description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an improved switch construction of this invention, the switch construction being in one operating position thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the switch construction in another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the switch construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates another switch construction of this invention, the switch construction being in one operating position thereof.

3,359,388 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the switch construction in another operating position thereof.

This invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate some of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 13, an improved electrical switch construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 342 and comprises a casing 343 formed from a tubular member 344 having the opposed ends thereof closed by

end caps

345 and 346 in any suitable manner, the end cap 345 being formed of electrically insulating material.

The

end caps

345 and 346 are respectively provided with passage means 347 and 343 leading into a compartment 349 defined in the casing 343.

A pair of terminals 350 respectively lead from the exterior of the casing 343 through the end cap 345 into the compartment 349 of the casing 343, the terminals 350 respectively being interconnected to resilient switch arms 351 normally biased toward each other.

The switch arms 351 respectively carry switch contacts 352 normally disposed in contact with each other to complete a circuit between the terminals 350 for any desired purpose.

A pair of non-conductive arms 353 are respectively interconnected to the terminals 350 and extend away therefrom, the arms 353 respectively being interconnected at the free ends 354 thereof to non-conductive plates 355 having the free ends 356 thereof disposed in engagement with the switch arms 351 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

A flexible member 357 is disposed in the compartment 349 and is secured between the tubular member 344 and the end cap 346 to divide the compartment 349 into two

chambers

358 and 359, the chamber 358 being in com munication with the passage means 348 and the chamber 359 being in communication with the passage means 347 previously described.

As long as the pressure differential between the

chambers

358 and 359 is substantially zero or the chamber 359 has a greater pressure than the chamber 358, the baglike, flexible member 357 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby the switch contacts 352 are disposed in contact with each other and permit electrical current to flow between the terminals 350 for any desired purpose.

However, when the pressure differential between the

chambers

358 and 359 reaches a point whereby the flexible member 357 expands and engages the pressure members 355 to move the same outwardly and carry the switch arms 351 away from each other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2, the electrical current between the terminals 350 is terminated until the flexible member 357 collapses to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1.

One typical application of the switch consrtuction 342 of this invention is to provide a water level control for a domestic washing machine or the like wherein the passage means 348 thereof is interconnected to a water level sensing means so that the air trapped in the chamber 358 will increase as the water level in the domestic washing machine increases.

Therefore, as long as the supply of water to the washing machine is below the desired level thereof, the switch contacts 352 remain in contact with each other and energize a suitable solenoid valve or the like to supply water to the washing machine.

However, when the water level has reached the desired level, the flexible member 357 is expanded to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to open the switch contact 352 and terminate operation of the flow of Water to the washing machine.

While the flexible member 357 of the switch construction 342 has been illustrated as being bag-like, it is to be understood that the same can be formed in any desired manner.

For example, another switch construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference, numeral 360 in FIGURES 3 and 4 wherein parts thereof similar to the switch construction 342 are indicated by like reference numerals.

The end cap 346 of the switch construction 360 is provided with an upwardly extending portion 361 having annular flanges 362 and 3-63 disposed at the opposed ends thereof.

A tubular flexible member 364 is adapted to encompass the

annular flanges

362 and 363 of the end cap 346 to define a chamber 365 therewith, the tubular flexible member 364 being secured to the

annular flanges

362 and 363 by split retaining rings 366.

The chamber 365 of the flexible member 364 is interconnected to a passage means 367 formed in the end cap 346 while the other chamber 359 of the casing 343 is interconnected to passage means 347 formed in the end cap 345.

As long as the pressure differential between the

chambers

365 and 359 remains substantially zero, the switch contacts 352 are disposed in contact with each other whereby current can flow between the terminals 350.

However, when the pressure in the chamber 365 increases over the pressure in the chamber 359 to an amount greater than the spring force of the switch arms 351, the expanded flexible member 364 moves the switch arms 351 away from each other to break electrical contact between the switch contacts 352 to terminate the flow of current between the terminals 350 in a manner similar to the switch construction 342 previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides improved electrical switch constructions or the'like which can be actuated by a simple pressure differential arrangement.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch construction comprising a casing, a pair of switch arm means; disposed in said casing and normally being urged toward each other by the natural resiliency of said switch arm means, a pair of switch contacts respectively carried by said switch switch arm means and normally disposed in contact with each other to complete a circuit through said switch construction, and an expansible member disposed in said casing and being disposed between said switch arm means, said expansible member being operatively interconnected to said switch arm means to spread said switch arm means and break said circuit when said member is expanded, said switch arm means each including an electrical terminal carried by said casing and having first, second and third arms carried thereby, said first and second arms of each arm means having adjacent ends secured to opposite sides of their respective terminal to be spaced from each other with said second arm carrying its respective contact at the other end thereof, said third arm of each arm means having one end carried by the other end of its respective first arm and having its other end disposed against said other end of its respective second arm, said exansible member being so disposed between said arm means that said expansible member engages said third arms when expanded to move the same away from each other and thus move said second arms away' from each other to break said circuit.

2. A switch construction comprising a casing, a pair of switch arm means disposed in said casing and normally being urged toward each other by the natural resiliency of said switch arm means, a pair of switch contacts respectively carried by said switch arm means and normally disposed in contact with each other to complete a circuit through said switch construction, and a flexible member disposed in said casing and dividing said chamber into two compartments, said flexible member being disposed between said switch arm means and being operatively interconnected to said switch arm means whereby said flexible member expands and moves said switch arm means away from eachother to breaksaid circuit when the pressure in one of said chambers is greater than the pressure in the other chamber a predetermined amount, said switch arm means each including an electrical terminal carried by said casing-and having first, second and third arms carried thereby, said first and second arms of each arm means having adjacent ends secured to opposite sides of their respective terminal to be spaced from each other with said second arm carrying its respective contact at the other end thereof, said third arm of each arm means having one end carried by the'other end of its respective first arm and having its other end disposed against said other end of its respective second arm, said flexible member being so disposed between said arm means that said flexible member engages said third arm means when expanded to move the same away from each other and thus move said second arms away from each other to break said circuit.

3. A switch'construction as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flexible member is tubular.

4. A switch construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible member is bag-like.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. B. GILSON, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A SWITCH CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A CASING, A PAIR OF SWITCH ARM MEANS; DISPOSED IN SAID CASING AND NORMALLY BEING URGED TOWARD EACH OTHER BY THE NATURAL RESILIENCY OF SAID SWITCH ARM MEANS, A PAIR OF SWITCH CONTACTS RESPECTIVELY CARRIED BY SAID SWITCH SWITCH ARM MEANS AND NORMALLY DISPOSED IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER TO COMPLETE A CIRCUIT THROUGH SAID SWITCH CONSTRUCTION, AND AN EXPANSIBLE MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID CASING AND BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SWITCH ARM MEANS, SAID EXPANSIBLE MEMBER BEING OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID SWITCH ARM MEANS TO SPREAD SAID SWITCH ARM MEANS AND BREAK SAID CIRCUIT WHEN SAID MEMBER IS EXPANDED, SAID SWITCH ARM MEANS EACH INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CARRIED BY SAID CASING AND HAVING FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD ARMS CARRIED THEREBY, SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARMS OF EACH ARM MEANS HAVING ADJACENT ENDS SECURED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TERMINAL TO BE SPACED FROM EACH OTHER WITH SAID SECOND ARM CARRYING ITS RESPECTIVE CONTACT AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, SAID THIRD ARM OF EACH ARM MEANS HAVING ONE END CARRIED BY THE OTHER END OF ITS RESPECTIVE FIRST ARM AND HAVING ITS OTHER END DISPOSED AGAINST SAID OTHER END OF ITS RESPECTIVE SECOND ARM, SAID EXANSIBLE MEMBER BEING SO DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ARM MEANS THAT SAID EXPANSIBLE MEMBER ENGAGES SAID THIRD ARMS WHEN EXPANDED TO MOVE THE SAME AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND THUS MOVE SAID SECOND ARMS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO BREAK SAID CIRCUIT.