US3415966A - Electrical switch with improved bridge contactor - Google Patents

Electrical switch with improved bridge contactor Download PDF

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Publication number
US3415966A
US3415966A US636721A US63672167A US3415966A US 3415966 A US3415966 A US 3415966A US 636721 A US636721 A US 636721A US 63672167 A US63672167 A US 63672167A US 3415966 A US3415966 A US 3415966A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
contact
bridging contact
bridging
stationary
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
US636721A
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English (en)
Inventor
Benjamin H Matthews
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.)
Lucerne Products Inc
Original Assignee
Lucerne Products Inc
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 Lucerne Products Inc filed Critical Lucerne Products Inc
Priority to US636721A priority Critical patent/US3415966A/en
Priority to GB1231462D priority patent/GB1231462A/en
Priority to DE19681765372 priority patent/DE1765372B1/de
Priority to NL6806521A priority patent/NL6806521A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3415966A publication Critical patent/US3415966A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/18—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with subsequent sliding
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/04—Cases; Covers
    • H01H13/08—Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/48—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member
    • H01R4/4809—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar
    • H01R4/48185—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar adapted for axial insertion of a wire end
    • H01R4/4819—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar adapted for axial insertion of a wire end the spring shape allowing insertion of the conductor end when the spring is unbiased
    • H01R4/4821—Single-blade spring

Definitions

  • a projection cams one end of the bridging contact upwardly in one position of the latter, above the adjacent stationary contact to open the switch circuit.
  • the bridging contact moves downwardly off the projection to engage the under lying stationary contact to thereby bridge the stationary contacts and close the switch circuit.
  • the contact face of the upwardly movable end of the bridging contact has a slot or groove formed therein, which slot is adapted to prevent accumulation on the contact face, of material having electrical resistance properties, with such slot materially increasing the life of the switch as well as increasing the current carrying capacity of the switch.
  • This application relates in general to a compact electrical switch and in particular to a compact electrical switch wherein a bridging contact is slidable with respect to spaced stationary contacts of the switch and between a non-bridging position and a bridging position and vice versa.
  • Such patented switch comprises a bridging contact member which is adapted to be cammed upwardly by projection means, to move one end of the bridging contact in an upwardly raised position in the off condition of the switch, and wherein such raised bridging contact is adapted to move downwardly into engagement with the associated or adjacent stationary contact upon sliding movement of the bridging contact with'respect to the stationary contacts, so as to complete the switch circuit and place the switch in on condition.
  • the contact face of the leading or upwardly pivotal end of said birdging member may develop a layer of electrical resistance material thereon after a period of operation of the switch which increases the arcing between the bridging contact and the underlying stationary contact during opening and closing of the switch, and which contributes to the breakdown and wearing out of the switch mechanism.
  • the present invention provides a control switch arrangement of the above discussed type, including a bridging contact which is adapted to be pivoted with respect to a stationary contact when the switch is in off position, and which bridging contact is adapted to move or pivot into engagement with an associated stationary contact upon actuation of the switch to move it to its on position, and with the contact face of the pivotal end of the bridging member having slot or groove means formed thereon which resists formation of a resistance or electrical insulating layer on the contact face, and which slot means materially increases the life and current carrying capacity of the switch mechanism.
  • Said slot extends transversely across the surface of the bridging contact which is intended to come into communication with the adjacent surface of the associated stationary contact as to establish a conductive connection therebetween, and its placement is believed operable to channel or direct the fiow of current therethrough in such manner as to establish an electromagnetic field in the area of said slot which is also operable to extinguish any are that may tend to be developed upon opening or closing of the switch contacts.
  • an object of the invention is to provide a novel electrical control switch.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a novel electrical control switch of the type comprising a movable bridging contact slidable with respect to spaced stationary contacts, for making and breaking the switch circuit, together with novel means on the bridging contact for increasing the wear life and current carrying capacity of the switch.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical control switch of the aforedliscussed type wherein the means on the switch for increasing the wear life of the switch comprises a slot or groove formed on the leading end of the bridging contact, which prevents a build-up or accumulation of electrical resistance or insulating material on said contact face of the bridging contact.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical control switch of the aforementioned type and wherein the slot or groove formed on the leading contact end of the bridging contact functions to channel or direct the flow of current between the bridging contact and its associated stationary contact so as to develop an electromagnetic field in the area of said slot which is effective to help extinguish any arc that may form upon opening or closing of the switch contacts.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the switch as assembled with a trigger assembly in for instance, a power tool, with the tool being illustrated in phantom lines;
  • FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the switch taken generally along the plane of line 22 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;
  • FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the switch and trigger assembly of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 44 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and with the switch being in an off or open circuit condition;
  • FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIGURE 4, but illustrating the bridging contact member having moved off the camming projection to bridge the stationary contacts and thus close the switch circuit to place the switch in on condition;
  • FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 66 of FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;
  • FIGURE 7 is an enlarged side elevational detail view of the bridging contact member
  • FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a switch illustrating a different embodiment of the invention, and especially as concerns the cam mechanism for moving or pivoting one end of the bridging contact member upwardly.
  • FIGURE 1 a tool 10, having a switch and trigger assembly 14 mounted therein and embodying the present invention.
  • Mechanism 14 includes a trigger or switch actuator 16 which includes a portion 16a (FIG. 4) extending rearwardly from the trigger portion 16b, and which is adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to switch housing 18. Stop 19 on switch housing 18 may be provided for limiting outward movement of actuator 16. Trigger 16 and switch housing 18 may be made of electrical insulating material, as shown, and a spring means 20 may be provided coacting between the housing 18 and abutment 22 on the actuator portion 16a, for normally maintaining the actuator 16 in an outward position with respect to the switch housing.
  • a spring biased pin or plunger 24 (FIGURE 1) may be provided which is adapted to be pushed inwardly and be received in holding engagement with abutment wall 26 of actuator portion 16a for holding the actuator in switch on position.
  • Such spring biased plunger mechanism is well known in the switch art.
  • a pair of stationary electrical conducting contact members 28 and 28a are provided in the switch housing 18, with such contact members being adapted for engagement with conducting lines 30, 32, respectively.
  • Clip means 34 may be provided for providing positive engagement of the bared wires of line conductors 30, 32 with the respective stationary contact member, said securement structure being known in the art as a plug-in terminal,
  • said clip means may comprise a flat elongated electrical conducting mem ber held in position in the switch body by means of projections 33 preferably formed integrally with the housing on the switch interior partition 36.
  • the switch has been illustrated as a type which makes and breaks contacts in both sides of an electrical energy source.
  • a contact assembly including a pair of stationary contacts and a bridging contact, provided in each side of the line of electrical energy. Since the contact assembly is identical on both sides, only one will be described in detail, with those on the other side being designated by identical reference numbers with the prefix prime added thereto.
  • Such contact assemblies are insulated from one another by means of the intermediate center wall or partition 37 of the switch body 18 and coacting longitudinal center wall 40 of actuator portion 16a.
  • the bridging contact member 38 with which the present invention is particularly concerned comprises an elongated body portion of electrical conducting material, which bridging contact member is adapted to be received in a slot 44 formed in the actuator portion 16a, with such bridging member being movable with the actuator during inward and outward movements of the actuator into and out of the switch housing.
  • a recess 46 may be provided in the upper periphery of bridging contact member 38 and is adapted to receive therein spring means 48, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.
  • a foot portion 50 Depending from adjacent the forward end of the bridging contact member 38 may be a foot portion 50 providing a generally flat contact face 50a on its underside, with the face being generally rounded as at 50b at the longitudinal ends thereof.
  • a camming surface 52 is provided extending downwardly in a generally smooth curve from the body portion and ending at generally diagonal abutment 54. Rearwardly of abutment 54 there is provided generally flat contacting face 56 of the bridging contact member.
  • the leading contact face 56 of contact 38 is provided with a recess 58 therein which recess configuration is preferably of the arcuate nature illustrated.
  • Recess 58 is preferably located a distance Y from the rearward extremity of the bridging contact, which distance Y is approximately one-half the distance X. Accordingly, contact face portion 56a disposed forwardly of recess 58 is of a greater length than contact face portion 56b disposed rearwardly of recess 58.
  • Operation of the switch may be as follows: Inward movement of the actuator 16 causes abutment face 60 on the actuator to engage the bridging contact member 38 and move it forwardly or inwardly of the switch hous ing, with the forward movement of the actuator. Such forward movement causes the contact face 50a on the bridging contact to slide along and relative to the surface of stationary contact 28 and from the off switch position shown in FIGURE 4 wherein the projection 62 formed on housing partition 36 and extending upwardly therefrom maintains the bridging contact in an upwardly swung position with respect to the underlying stationary contact 28a, to the on switch position wherein the leading face 56 of bridging contact swings or pivots downwardly about the trailing contact end 50a under the influence of spring 48 into engagement with the surface of stationary contact 28a.
  • Slot or groove 58 extends upward into the bridging contact to define or form separate contact face portions 56a and 56b thereon.
  • the sharp edges formed in the contacting face of contact 38 by slot 58 as identified at 58b and 580 also act to scrape the surface of the stationary contact 28a, 28a to retain said surface in a clean condition.
  • this electromagnetic field is operable to dislodge and pull the loose material forming the aforesaid resistance layer from between the contact making faces of contacts 38 and 28a to thus assist in maintaining the contacting surfaces of said contacts in a clean condition.
  • FIGURE 8 there is shown a modification of the switch mechanism, and wherein the projection 62a for camming the bridging contact member upwardly in spaced relation with the underlying stationary contact 28a is formed integrally with the stationary contact 28 instead of being formed of electrical insulating material, as is projection 62 in the first described embodiment.
  • the FIGURE 8 embodiment is generally identical to the first described embodiment.
  • the invention provides a novel electrical switch of the stationary and bridging contact type, wherein the bridging contact is adapted to be cammed upwardly to open the switch in the off position of the switch, and is adapted to drop or move downwardly to engage an underlying stationary contact in the on position of the switch to thus bridge the stationary contact in electrical conducting relation, and wherein the contacting face of the pivotal end of the bridging contact member is provided with means for preventing the accumulation of electrical energy resistance means thereon, thereby increasing the service life of the switch mechanism and increasing the current carrying capability of the switch.
  • the accepted current carrying capacity of said switch for use in 110 volt environment is sixteen (16) amperes as compared to the accepted current capability of ten (10) amperes for a prior similar switch structure with a bridging member without the slot or groove 58 of the instant assembly; the accepted increase in capacity being over fifty percent.
  • a electrical switch of the type comprising spaced stationary contacts and a movable bridging contact adapted to move relative to the stationary contacts, with the bridging contact being movable from an off position wherein the bridging contact is spaced from at least one of the stationary contacts, to an on position wherein the bridging contact engages the stationary contacts in electrical conducting relation
  • the combination therewith of the bridging contact having at least one contacting face adapted to engage one of the stationary contacts and a recess formed in said contacting face, said recess being spaced forwardly therein with respect to the rearward extremity of said bridging contact approximately one-half the distance between the rearward extremity of said bridging contact and the forward extremity of said one contacting face.
  • an electrical switch of the type comprising spaced stationary contacts and a movable bridging contact adapted to move relative to the stationary contacts, with the bridging contact being movable from an off position wherein the bridging contact is spaced from at least one of the stationary contacts, to an on position wherein the bridging contact engages the stationary contacts in elec trical conducting relation, the combination therewith of a projection formed integral with one of the stationary contacts postioned to engage said bridging cotnact and cam it upwardly away from engagement with said one stationary contact.
  • a swtch in accordance with claim 4 and wherein the bridging contact comprises lengthwise spaced contacting faces thereon, means on said bridging contact intermediate said faces coacting with said resilient means in retaining relation, the last mentioned means being disposed forwardly of the transverse center plane of said bridging contact.

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
US636721A 1967-05-08 1967-05-08 Electrical switch with improved bridge contactor Expired - Lifetime US3415966A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US636721A US3415966A (en) 1967-05-08 1967-05-08 Electrical switch with improved bridge contactor
GB1231462D GB1231462A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-05-08 1968-05-07
DE19681765372 DE1765372B1 (de) 1967-05-08 1968-05-08 Elektrischer schalter
NL6806521A NL6806521A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-05-08 1968-05-08

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US636721A US3415966A (en) 1967-05-08 1967-05-08 Electrical switch with improved bridge contactor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3415966A true US3415966A (en) 1968-12-10

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ID=24553062

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US636721A Expired - Lifetime US3415966A (en) 1967-05-08 1967-05-08 Electrical switch with improved bridge contactor

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3415966A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1765372B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1231462A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6806521A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3598934A (en) * 1969-07-07 1971-08-10 Black & Decker Mfg Co Multiple pole switch for producing simultaneous opposite switching operations
US3731030A (en) * 1970-06-17 1973-05-01 Holzer Patent Ag Pushbutton switch assembly with pivotable conductive bridging member and multiple conductive path printed circuit board
US4064380A (en) * 1976-02-25 1977-12-20 Lucerne Products, Inc. Movable contact carrier for an electrical control
JPS548862B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1970-05-04 1979-04-19
US4379214A (en) * 1981-12-28 1983-04-05 Lucerne Products, Inc. Trigger operated tool handle switch
US4463228A (en) * 1983-01-07 1984-07-31 Mcgill Manufacturing Company, Inc. Portable electrical switch and outlet unit
US4533804A (en) * 1977-07-29 1985-08-06 Itt Industries, Inc. Push button slide switch
US4705920A (en) * 1986-04-08 1987-11-10 Lucerne Products, Inc. Electrical switch with rocker actuator having removable locking key
US20140069676A1 (en) * 2012-09-07 2014-03-13 Robert Bosch Gmbh Slide Switch for a Power Tool
US10668613B2 (en) * 2013-03-14 2020-06-02 Robert Bosch Tool Corporation Slide switch for a power tool

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4256942A (en) * 1978-11-27 1981-03-17 Lucerne Products, Inc. Trigger operated tool handle switch
JPS61151214U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1985-03-09 1986-09-18
DE3815883A1 (de) * 1988-05-10 1989-11-23 Kautt & Bux Kg Geraeteschalter
DE3924109A1 (de) * 1989-07-20 1991-01-31 Merit Elektrik Gmbh Mehrfachschalter, insbesondere ein-, aus- und/oder umschalter fuer kraftfahrzeuge und artverwandte anwendung

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2339996A (en) * 1941-08-11 1944-01-25 Grace Dehnert Kight Breaker point
US2779828A (en) * 1954-09-27 1957-01-29 Pass & Seymour Inc Turn knob switch with push-in terminals
US3222488A (en) * 1964-03-31 1965-12-07 Lucerne Products Inc Electrical switch with camming bridging contact

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR862762A (fr) * 1939-02-20 1941-03-14 Gardy Sa Système de contacts électriques à pression élastique et ses applications
DE1738663U (de) * 1955-06-07 1957-01-31 Siemens Ag Kontaktgabeeinrichtung fuer mehrfachunterbrecher.

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2339996A (en) * 1941-08-11 1944-01-25 Grace Dehnert Kight Breaker point
US2779828A (en) * 1954-09-27 1957-01-29 Pass & Seymour Inc Turn knob switch with push-in terminals
US3222488A (en) * 1964-03-31 1965-12-07 Lucerne Products Inc Electrical switch with camming bridging contact

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3598934A (en) * 1969-07-07 1971-08-10 Black & Decker Mfg Co Multiple pole switch for producing simultaneous opposite switching operations
JPS548862B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1970-05-04 1979-04-19
US3731030A (en) * 1970-06-17 1973-05-01 Holzer Patent Ag Pushbutton switch assembly with pivotable conductive bridging member and multiple conductive path printed circuit board
US4064380A (en) * 1976-02-25 1977-12-20 Lucerne Products, Inc. Movable contact carrier for an electrical control
US4533804A (en) * 1977-07-29 1985-08-06 Itt Industries, Inc. Push button slide switch
US4379214A (en) * 1981-12-28 1983-04-05 Lucerne Products, Inc. Trigger operated tool handle switch
WO1983002358A1 (en) * 1981-12-28 1983-07-07 Lucerne Products Inc Trigger operated tool handle switch
US4463228A (en) * 1983-01-07 1984-07-31 Mcgill Manufacturing Company, Inc. Portable electrical switch and outlet unit
US4705920A (en) * 1986-04-08 1987-11-10 Lucerne Products, Inc. Electrical switch with rocker actuator having removable locking key
US20140069676A1 (en) * 2012-09-07 2014-03-13 Robert Bosch Gmbh Slide Switch for a Power Tool
US9242362B2 (en) * 2012-09-07 2016-01-26 Robert Bosch Gmbh Slide switch for a power tool
US10668613B2 (en) * 2013-03-14 2020-06-02 Robert Bosch Tool Corporation Slide switch for a power tool

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1765372B1 (de) 1971-10-28
NL6806521A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1968-11-11
GB1231462A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-05-12

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