US3521017A - Electrical switch mechanism - Google Patents

Electrical switch mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3521017A
US3521017A US731177A US3521017DA US3521017A US 3521017 A US3521017 A US 3521017A US 731177 A US731177 A US 731177A US 3521017D A US3521017D A US 3521017DA US 3521017 A US3521017 A US 3521017A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
frame
switch mechanism
switch
lever
contact
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
US731177A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Peter Oulianoff
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.)
TDK Micronas GmbH
Alcatel Lucent NV
Original Assignee
Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH
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
Priority claimed from AU22323/67A external-priority patent/AU405986B2/en
Application filed by Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH filed Critical Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3521017A publication Critical patent/US3521017A/en
Assigned to ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP OF THE NETHERLANDS reassignment ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP OF THE NETHERLANDS ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, 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
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/32—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts
    • H01H3/46—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts using rod or lever linkage, e.g. toggle
    • 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
    • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
    • H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
    • H01H1/28—Assembly of three or more contact-supporting spring blades
    • 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
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H13/14—Operating parts, e.g. push-button

Definitions

  • the invention relates to switch mechanisms.
  • the switch of this invention is primarily intended, though not exclusively, for use as an electrical contact maker and/or breaker in the telephone or telecommunication industry.
  • prior art switches suited for the above application consist of spring piles supported by insulators and clamped or attached to a base or frame and operated by means of mechanical linkages.
  • Such spring and contact piles usually require extensive adjustment operation performance on the individual switches to set contact sequences and gaps. These adjustments require relatively skilled assembly techniques and represent large proportion of the assembly time.
  • Disadvantages encountered with the mechanical linkages used to operate such switches have been shown to be inherent in relation to pivots and bearings for the operation of the switches, these pivots and bearings being subjected to wear and are thus often the cause of final breakdown. Further, the forces required to operate the system of springs are in direct relation to the number of contact springs operated unless complicated linkages and lever systems are used.
  • the main object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism which is subsantially free from the above disadvantages.
  • the invention may be considered as a switch mechanism comprising a hollow frame having at 3,521,017 Patented July 21, 1970 ice least a part of flexible material, a substantially inflexible base portion on the frame, electrical contact members mounted with respect to the base portion, means for distorting the frame, and means actuated by distortion of the frame to move the electrical contact members.
  • the frame is in the shape of a parallelogram flexible at its corners in such a way that one of the parallel sides is fixed as a base and serves as an anchor for the electrical contacts.
  • the contacts are closed or opened by the movemen of the other three sides in relation to the base.
  • a feature of the frame is that is can be designed and constructed free from mechanical bearings, relying on the elastic properties of flextural material in a distorting frame for its operation. Stops can be incorporated in the frame to limit and control the travel of the parallel sides adjacent the base, thus, affording protection to the contacts from excessive pressures.
  • Distortion of the frame may be actuated directly by pressure on one of its sides or by a lever being an extension of a side or by a separate lever and springs acting on one or both of the sides adjacent the base.
  • the last method allows indirect actuation of the switch and incorporates protection against overstressing of the frame.
  • FIG. 1 is a general isometric view of the switching mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a half section plan view of the frame of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows a half section of the side elevation of the frame
  • FIG. 4 shows a front elevation of the frame
  • FIG. 5 shows a rear elevation of the frame
  • FIG. 6 shows a half section of the side elevation of the frame and lever assembly
  • FIG. 7 shows another embodiment within the spirit of the invention.
  • the switch comprises a middle frame L of suitable material (preferably a thermoplastic material with suitable properties, e.g. an acetal resin known as Delrin) (registered trademark) suitably weakened at the points A, R.
  • suitable material preferably a thermoplastic material with suitable properties, e.g. an acetal resin known as Delrin) (registered trademark) suitably weakened at the points A, R.
  • Contact springs 20, 22 and 24 may be either inserted individually in slots B in the base Z or sub-assembled as a separate unit and then inserted and locked into position in cavity C (see FIG. 2).
  • the contact springs in the illustrated frame (FIG. 1) would, for example, be cantilevered leaves, extending from the base to the top M, the middle spring 22 acting as a lever which engages in the slot N and the moves with the top M as described below.
  • Each of contact springs 20 and 24 have secured thereon contacts 32, which, when the switch is actuated, electrically connect to a contact 34 on contact spring
  • the spring pile may be actuated through the parallel side wall members K and L by the application of suitable forces along an extension (not shown) of these members K and L.
  • over-travel facilities have been incorporated to provide additional protection for the contact springs. Switching is performed by a separate lever (see FIG. 6) resting against two fulcrums D and E and held in position by a spring Y under compression in sockets Q and S in the wall P and end of lever X, respectively.
  • This spring Y delivers a measured force against the fulcrums D or E which becomes a pivot point for the lever in the event of the actuating force F becoming excessive.
  • the lever may be subjected to overtravel without damaging eifect to either frame or contact springs.
  • the actuating spring Y may act on the lever X at any chosen point as may be required from case to case, i.e. the switch may be monostable in one or the other direction depending on the axis of action of the springY forces, or, if the neutral axis of the spring Y crosses the centre of the pivot A the switch may be operated bistably.
  • the distance of travel of the member M may be controlled by the stops H and J and the gaps between these members and the side wall members K and L of the case.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the same principle wherein the stops H and J are integral with and depend from the top member M parallel with the base Z.
  • a pre-tensioned spring W is incorporated to determine the direction of action of the switching lever X (not shown).
  • the contacts are thus closed under the action of spring W and opened when the actuating lever is operated.
  • FIG. 7 showsonly one set of contacts the switch being intended to be mounted in parallel banks in the manner shown by the broken section to the right of the drawing and on one common base Z.
  • the spring Y of FIG. 6 (not shown in FIG. 7) which retains the actuating lever X will be mounted between two banks of the contacts. 7
  • One form of the switch as described above utilizes the material Delrin which is a plastic material having suitable properties to permit frame flexural action with constructional rigidity.
  • Delrin is a plastic material having suitable properties to permit frame flexural action with constructional rigidity.
  • an identically designed switch may be produced from non-plastic material, even metal, with the fiexure points A and R being fabricated from suitable elastic material, e.g. spring steel.
  • particular types of switches according to this invention may be constructed other than with an integral frame as illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • a switch mechanism comprising: a rigid base member, a flexible frame member secured to said rigid base member, a plurality of electrical contact members mounted on said rigid base member and extending away from said rigid base member in planes parallel to a portion of said flexible frame member, means for distorting said flexible frame member so as to cause said flexible frame member to directly contact at least one of said electrical contact members and cause the electrical contact member to move.
  • a switch mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein distortion of the flexible frame member may be actuated by a lever forming one side of said flexible frame member.
  • a switch mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sides of said flexible frame member adjacent to said rigid base member are distorted by means of a lever and springs secured to said rigid base member.
  • An electrical contact maker comprising a frame having a parallelogram shape, said frame being flexible at its corners, one of the sides of said parallelogram being fixed and serving as a base portion, electrical contacts secured to said base portion, said contacts being opened or closed by movement of the other three sides of said parallelogram in relation to said base portion.

Landscapes

  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)
US731177A 1967-05-25 1968-05-22 Electrical switch mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3521017A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU22323/67A AU405986B2 (en) 1967-05-25 Improvements in or relating to electric switch mechanisms

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3521017A true US3521017A (en) 1970-07-21

Family

ID=3711516

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US731177A Expired - Lifetime US3521017A (en) 1967-05-25 1968-05-22 Electrical switch mechanism

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3521017A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1765406A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1588493A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1228466A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107591292A (zh) * 2017-11-06 2018-01-16 鹤山市辉域成套设备有限公司 一种微型断路器支架

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3256401A (en) * 1963-04-03 1966-06-14 American Mach & Foundry Spring pile-up electromagnetic relay
US3277256A (en) * 1965-03-26 1966-10-04 Herbert O Jones Hermetically sealed strip switch
US3290629A (en) * 1964-05-25 1966-12-06 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Wire spring relay with improved means for determining contact force
US3383487A (en) * 1966-07-18 1968-05-14 Wiener Robert Thin flexible magnetic switch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3256401A (en) * 1963-04-03 1966-06-14 American Mach & Foundry Spring pile-up electromagnetic relay
US3290629A (en) * 1964-05-25 1966-12-06 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Wire spring relay with improved means for determining contact force
US3277256A (en) * 1965-03-26 1966-10-04 Herbert O Jones Hermetically sealed strip switch
US3383487A (en) * 1966-07-18 1968-05-14 Wiener Robert Thin flexible magnetic switch

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107591292A (zh) * 2017-11-06 2018-01-16 鹤山市辉域成套设备有限公司 一种微型断路器支架
CN107591292B (zh) * 2017-11-06 2019-01-08 鹤山市辉域成套设备有限公司 一种微型断路器支架

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1765406A1 (de) 1971-07-22
FR1588493A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-04-17
GB1228466A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-04-15

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORP OF DE;REEL/FRAME:004718/0023

Effective date: 19870311