US3504143A

US3504143A - Interlock switch

Info

Publication number: US3504143A
Application number: US809538A
Authority: US
Inventors: James U Dernehl
Original assignee: JAMES U DERNEHL
Current assignee: JAMES U DERNEHL
Priority date: 1969-03-24
Filing date: 1969-03-24
Publication date: 1970-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-31

Description

United States Patent O 3,504,143 INTERLOCK SWITCH James U. Dernehl, l1650 Deerfield Road, Highland Park, lll. 60035 Filed Mar. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 809,538 Int. Cl. H01h 9/26 U.S. Cl. 200-50 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch device having a single actuator which when moved in one direction and permitted to be self-restored to its original position will effect momentary actuation of a switch blade, and upon extended movement of the actuator in an opposite direction will effect a holding actuation of a complementary switch blade, with the latter switch blade being restored when the actuator is forcibly returned to its original position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A switch apparatus having internal complementary switching components adapted to be selectively operated by a single actuator. The selection of the switching component to be actuated is determined by the direction of movement of the single actuator. Normal movement of the actuator in one direction will momentarily effect actuation of one of the switch components while extended move ment of the actuator in an opposite direction will actuate and hold the other switch component in an operative circuit making position.

These switch apparatuses are known in thetrade as interlocks and their operation, as above described, has been usually achieved through auxiliary mechanical structures which are both expensive and complicated in construction and operation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

FIG. Al is a perspective view of the switch apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an internal side elevational View of the switch apparatus in its normal condition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing one ofthe switch units in an actuated condition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational View similar to FIG. 2 showing the other switch component in an actuated condition; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the actuator parts in an exploded relationship. v

The switch apparatus 10 comprises a case 11 and cornplementary cover 12 which together provide

internal cavities

13 and 14 aswell as an opening 15 in the top wall thereof.

One pair of end walls of the case 11 and cover 12 provide vertically aligned

parallel slots

16 and 17 through which project fixed terminals 18 and 19 -with each terminal providing a contact portion positioned within the

cavities

13 and 14, respectively.

The opposite pair of end walls of the case 11 and cover 12 provide a second pair of vertically aligned

parallel slots

20 and 21 through which a portion of combination terminal and

pivot brackets

22 and 23 project. Each of the combination terminal and

pivot brackets

22 and 23 provides

pivot posts

24 and 25 disposed in a coplanar relationship within the

cavities

13 and 14, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

Each

bracket

22 and 23 has associated therewith an over-centering mechanism by which an associated switch blade is moved relative to the

fixed terminals

18 and 19.

Patented Mar. 31, 1970 ICC As seen in the drawings, a switch blade 26 has one end pivotally connected to the pivot posts 24 provided by the bracket 22. The blade 26 is pivotally connected to the pivot post 24 by a coil spring 27 that has one end connected to the blade at a point beyond the pivot post 24, and its opposite end connected at a remote point to the bracket 22. As seen in FIG. 2 in its normal position the coil spring 27 extends through a plane beneath the point of pivotal connection between the blade 26 and the pivot post 24, thus the contact bearing end of the blade 26 will normally be held out of contact with terminal 18 and in the position shown wherein its angular end 28 is in contact with a partition wall 29, which separates the

cavities

13 and 14.

Within the cavity 14, a second switch blade 30 has one end thereof pivotally connected to the pivot post of bracket 23 by means of a coil spring 31 that has one end connected to the switch blade 30, at a point beyond the pivot post 25 and its opposite end connected to a remote point on the bracket 23. The coil spring 31 normally lies in a plane above the point of pivotal connection between the blade and the pivot post 25, so that the blade 30v is in the position shown in FIG. 2 where its contact bearing end is out of contact with terminal 19 and its angular end 32 is in engagement with the bottom surface of the partition wall 29.

Extending through the opening 15 formed in the top wall formed by the case 11 and cover 12 is a bushing 33. This bushing 33 provides an externally threaded shank portion 34 which terminates at one end into oppositely extending lateral flanges 35. Carried by the bushing 33 and beneath the lateral flanges 35 and spaced therefrom are parallelly extending retaining legs 36. When the bushing 33 is mounted in the opening 15 the flanges 35 will engage the top wall surface surrounding the opening 15 while the parallel legs 36 will engage beneath the wall surface surrounding the opening 15 and thus connect the bushing 33 thereto. An adjustable nut 37 is adapted to be threaded on to the shank 34 of the bushing 33 and cooperate with a holding ring 38 also threadable upon the shank 34 to connect the switch apparatus 10 to a mounting panel which will normally be disposed therebetween.

Freely journaled in the bushing 33 is one elongated end 39 of an actuator 40. This elongated end 39 is normally hollow and contains a coil spring 41, which sits upon a head 42 provided by the actuator 40 that is of a size equal to the internal circumference of the elongated end 39 and about which the lower open end of the member 39 is crimped. j

The actuator includes a circular collar 43 freely journaled in the bearing 33 when each of the parts is mounted within the apparatus as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Beneath the circular collar 43, provided by the actuator 40, are oppositely laterally extending arms 44 which engage the opposite interior side walls of the cavity 13 and guide the actuator when it is mounted in the apparatus 10. Extending beyond the arms 44 is a depending shank 45 that terminates into a yoke 46. The depending shank `45 of the actuator 40 is adapted to be slidably contained within a suitable cut-out formed in the partition wall 29 as seen. Also formed in the shank 45 of the actuator 40 is an opening 47 through which the coil spring 27 projects so as to be captured therein when the actuator and switch components are assembled within the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown the condition of all of the switch components when the switch apparatus. is in its normal or unactivated condition. When the actuator 40 is depressed, by any external force, the yoke 46 which engages the spring 31 will deform the same to a point beneath the overcentering line between the blade 30 and the pivot post 25, causing the blade to move with a snap action into the position shown in FIG. 3 where it engages the contact provided by the fixed terminal 19. As spring 27 is already'below the pivot point between its blade 26 and the pivot post 24, increased downward deflection thereof will not pivot the blade 26 out of its normal position as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. When the external force is removed from the actuator the combined forcesof the

deformed coil springs

27 and 31 will return the actuator to its original position as well as the switch blade 30 so that it is out of contact with the terminal 19. This is the normal functional operation of the switch apparatus. However, in the event that a continuing circuit is desired to be completed through the switch apparatus and not a momentary closing as just described, the actuator end 39 can be pulled in a direction out of the bushing 33 which movement in turn will deform the coil spring 27 to a point where it will overcenter and move with a snap action the switch blade 26. This position is shown in FIG. 4. By reason of the fact that the yoke 46 of the actuator 40` does not embrace the spring 31 it will not cause any deformation thereof. The tension of the spring 27 when it has been moved into the position shown in FIG. 4 will maintain the actuator 40 in this position until it is forcibly depressed in an opposite direction, and all of the switching components are returned to their original conidtion as seen in FIG. 2.

By the construction of the actuator 40 as hereinbefore described the exposed end 39 has a lost motion connection to the remaining part of the actuator, which is disposed within the cavity 13. This lost motion is achieved through the internal spring 41 and the loose connection between the end 39 and the head 42 which permits continuous depression of the end 39 inwardly of the bear ing 33 after the internal part of the actuator 40 has actuated the switch blade 30 in the manner hereinbefore described and shown in FIG. 3.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch apparatus including a housing having an interior cavity containing a pair of overcentering mechanisms, each including a coil spring anda switch blade with the switch blades independently movable with a snap action in opposite directions to complete a circuit therethrough wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) an actuator carried by the housing and movable through a reciprocal linear path relative to the longitudinal plane of the coil springs and switch blades,

of said portion of said actuator within the cavity in contact with the other of the coil springs,

(d) said means deforming the coil springs in one direction out of their longitudinal plane to independently pivot one of the switch blades in said one direction when said actuator is depressed out of its normal position and to deform one of the coil springs independentlyof the other of the coil springs to independently pivot the other of the switch blades in an opposite direction when said actuatoris moved out of its normal position through the housing in said opposite direction.

2. A switch apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said means formed in said portion of said actuator within the cavity of the housing consists of an opening formed through said actuator in the longitudinal plane of one of the coil springs, and through which the one coil spring extends and is captured so as to be deformed out of its longitudinal plane by movement of said actuator in either direction transversely with respect thereto.

3. A switch apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said means provided on one end of said portion of said actuator within the' cavity comprises a yoke embracing the spring inv one direction to pivot one of the switch blades in said one direction when said actuator is moved in said one direction through the cavity of the housing.

(b) means for mounting said actuator on the housing v 4. A switch apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said means formed in said portion of said actuator within the cavity of the housing consists of an opening formed through said actuator in the longitudinal plane of the other coil spring and through which the said other coil spring extends and is captured so as to be deformed out of its longitudinal plane by movement of said actuator in either direction transversely with respect thereto.

5. The switch apparatus of claim 1 further defined by having the coil springs of the overcentering mechanisms disposed in vertical alignment and extending transversely to said actuator and having suiiicient tension developed therein when deformed by said actuator when it is moved out of its normal position in one direction by an external force to reciprocally move said actuator in an opposite direction to restore it to its normal position when the external force is removed therefrom.

6. A switch apparatus of claim 4 further defined by having the coil springs of the overcentering mechanisms disposed in vertical alignment and extending transversely to said actuator and having sufficient tension developed therein when deformed by said actuator when it is moved out of its normal position in one direction by an external force to reciprocally move said actuator in an opposite direction to restore it to its normal position when the external force is removed therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,519,297 8/ 1950 Stump et al 200-76 XR ROBERT S. MACON, Primary Examiner M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 200-76