US3549838A - Snap switch - Google Patents

Snap switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3549838A
US3549838A US751128A US3549838DA US3549838A US 3549838 A US3549838 A US 3549838A US 751128 A US751128 A US 751128A US 3549838D A US3549838D A US 3549838DA US 3549838 A US3549838 A US 3549838A
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United States
Prior art keywords
switch
contact
unit
diaphragm
pressure
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
US751128A
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English (en)
Inventor
Carl A H M Waskowsky
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.)
Patinvest Patent und Investment AG
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Patinvest Patent und Investment AG
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Publication date
Application filed by Patinvest Patent und Investment AG filed Critical Patinvest Patent und Investment AG
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Publication of US3549838A publication Critical patent/US3549838A/en
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
    • D06F39/087—Water level measuring or regulating devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
    • H01H35/24—Switches operated by change of fluid pressure, by fluid pressure waves, or by change of fluid flow
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
    • H01H35/24—Switches operated by change of fluid pressure, by fluid pressure waves, or by change of fluid flow
    • H01H35/34—Switches operated by change of fluid pressure, by fluid pressure waves, or by change of fluid flow actuated by diaphragm

Definitions

  • H0lh 35/40 a diaphragm and at least one electrically H02b 1/08 controlled switch unit actuated by an [50] Field of Search 200/83, electromagnet for controlling the 83.9, 153, 168A; 1535/], 185, 192, 203, 15, 28, 29, operation ofdifferent elements ofone 49, 53, 162, 186, 188, 194; 317/99, 112 machine, for example, a washing machine.
  • the present invention relates to a multipole snap switch which is especially adapted for being employed in a laundering or dish-washing machine or the like whose individual switch units are equipped with contact springs for making and breaking one or more circuits.
  • the switch systems of such multipole switches are generally controlled by means of a diaphragm responsive to a pressure which depends upon the level of the liquid contained in the respective machine and acts upon spring-loaded control levers operating the contact springs.
  • Such pressure-controlled switches are frequently employed for carrying out a switching operation when a predetermined pressure is reached.
  • a switch of this type may also be controlled by a temperature gauge which converts the temperatures acting thereon into pressures. Owing to their design and functions, the switches con trolled by such temperature-pressure converters do, however,
  • thermosensors which not only operate more accurately but may also be easily separated from the actual switches since they are connected thereto merely electrically, in contradistinction to the temperature-pressure converters mentioned above.
  • this object is attained by designing the switch so that the operations of at least one of the switch units thereof may be controlled by an electrically controlled switch elensent, while the operations of at least one further switch unit may be controlled by a switch element which is responsive to a pressure determined, for example, by the level of a liquid in a container or machine.
  • control element of the electric switch unit of the multipolar switch is in the form of an electromagnet with a pivotable armature whose free end is connected to a contact spring so as to pivot the same into or out of engagement with a fixed contact.
  • This electrically controlled switch unit which may be located between two pressure-controlled switch units and could be exchanged, if desired, for another pressure-controlled switch unit, may also be connected to and actuated by an electronic control system which is responsive, for example, to a temperature value which is determined by an electronic sensor or thermistor.
  • H6. 1 shows a cross section of the switch taken along the line 1-1 ofFlG. 2;
  • FIG. 2 shows an axial section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a part of the switch illustrated in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 shows an axial section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the electric circuitry the switch
  • FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic illustration ofthe electrically controlled switch unit together with an electronic controlsystern therefor.
  • the multipole switching device comprises a housing 1 in which, as shown particularly in FIG. 1, three switch units are mounted side-by-side, namely a central switch unit 2 which is electrically controlled and two outer switch units 3 and 4 each of which is pressure-controlled.
  • the electric switch system 2 as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a fixed contact 6 connected to a terminal 5, and a contact spring 8 which is connected to another terminal 7 and carries on its free end a contact 9 which, under the biasing stress of contact spring 8, normally engages the fixed contact 6.
  • the housing 3 carries an electromagnet 10 connected by conductors 11 and 12 to two terminals 13 and 14 which are electrically insulated from each other and through which the control current is supplied to the electromagnet 10.
  • This electromagnet 10. is provided with an armature 15 which is pivotably mounted on the free end of a bracket 16 adjacent to the electromagnet and has a contact projection 18 on its side facing the core 17 of the electromagnet.
  • the pivotable armature 15 On its opposite, lower side, the pivotable armature 15 carries a pin 19 which projects through a longitudinal slot 20 in the contact spring 8 and terminates in a head 21 of a width larger than that of the slot 20.
  • This electrically controlled switch unit 2 is as follows: When the electromagnet 10 is energized by a control current which is supplied thereto from the terminals 13 and 14 through the conductors l1 and 12, the armature i5 is attracted to its closed position as shown in FIG. 2 in which it has lifted the contact spring 8 to its'open position. If the control current is then interrupted and the electromagnet is deenergized, contact spring 8 is swung back by its inherent stress in the direction of the arrow 22 so that its contact 9 engages the fixed contact 6 as shown in FIG. 3 and thereby interconnects the two terminals 5 and 7 to close the circuit of the switch unit 2. This return swing of contact spring 8 also draws the armature l5 to its open position as shown in FIG. 3. Switch unit 2 then remains in its closed position until another current impulse is supplied to the electromagnet 10 whereupon the attraction of armature 15 moves the contact spring 8 against its biasing stress to its open position.
  • contact spring 8 may also be acted upon by a pressure or draw spring. It is also possible to mount the fixed contact at the other side of the movable contact 9 in the manner indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in dotted lines, in which case the circuit of the electric switch unit 2 will always be closed when a control current traverses the electromagnet l0 and the armature 15 is in its attracted position. As soon as the .control current is then interrupted, contact spring 8 is returned by its own bias or by the action of a separate spring to its open position.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly 5 representative of the two pressure controlled switch units 3 and 4 which are located at both sides of the electrically controlled switch unit 2 as previously described.
  • Switch unit 3 is controlled by a diaphragm 23 responsive to the pressure of a liquid or gas which enters the lower part of the housing 1 underneath diaphragm 23 through an inlet 24.
  • This diaphragm 23 acts by a tappet 26, mounted onja diaphragm plate upon a control lever 27 which is pifvotable about one end and acted upon by an adjusting spring 28 whose-other end engages a setscrew 30 which may be adjusted to different levels in a socket 29 in the switch housing 1.
  • the control lever 27 is operatively associated with a contact spring 31, fixedly clamped at one end, which is provided with an aperturethrough which an extension 37 of the control lever may swing and with a contact 32 on its free end located between two fixed switch contacts 33 and 34 the latter of which is adjustable to different levels by a setscrew 44 in a socket 43.
  • a snap spring 35 is provided which engages with one lend'the edge of the aperture in contact spring 31 and with its Qt er end the projecting end 36 of the extension 37 of control leveftfi27.
  • control lever 27 carries outapivoting movement in the bottom portion or direction of thiefarrow 42 so that toggle spring 35 snaps over to the other s ide with theresult that contact spring 31 swings in the opp'o'site direction and its contact 32 engages the other contact 34.
  • Terminal 38, fixed end of spring 31, is then in circuit with another terminal 45.
  • FIG. 5 The electric circuits of the switching system according to the' i nvention are illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 5, in which the terminalsand contacts are designated by the same reference numerals as in the preceding FIGS.
  • the reference numerals for the switch unit 4 differ from those used for the switch unit 3 by the addition of a prime mark.
  • FIG. 6, finally, shows a diagrammatic illustration of an electronic control of the electrical switch unit 2 which, in turn, controls the supply of current to an electric heating device 47 connected to the current source 46.
  • This electronic circuit comprises an amplifier 48 one side of which is connected to a temperature sensor or thermistor 49, such as a temperatureresponsive resistance, while its other side is connected to a power-supply unit 50 energized by electric mains 46.
  • the diaphragm 23 with its reinforcing plate 25 extends across the entire dished housing bottom 40, underneath switch units 2, 3 and 4, even thoughonly the latter two units (flanking the unit 2) are actuated by this diaphragm through the intermediary of their levers 27 and 27' upon admission of pressure fluid into the chamber 55 beneath it.
  • the opposite housing portion, overlying the diaphragm, is formed with a superstructure 51, 52 which defines a recess bounded by edges 53, 54 to accommodate parts of the units2, 3 and 4, thereby keeping the elements of unit 2 clear ofdiaphragm 23 in any position of the latter while affording enough room for the operation of the diaphragm-controlled levers of units 3 and 4.
  • this particular switch is in effect a two-level control switch, for example, of a washing machine, which by means of its electrically controlled switch unit is additionally able .to control the operation of an electric heating unit of the machine.
  • a switching'device comprising ahousing with a dished bottom portion, a diaphragm spanning said bottom portion within said housing and forming a pressure chamber with said bottom portion, fluid-supply means opening into said chamber for raising and lowering said diaphragm, said housing also having a recessed top portion overlying said diaphragm, and a plurality of switch units above said diaphragm partly accommodated in said recessed top portion, said switch units including a first unit withfluid-controlled actuating means responsive to movement of said "diaphragm and a second unit with electrically controlled actuating means positioned sufficiently remote from saiddiaphragm to be unaffected by such movement.
  • switch units include a third unit substantially identical with said first unit, said second unit'being flanked by said first and third units and lying at the center of said housing.
  • a switching device as defined in claim 1 wherein said second unit comprises electromagnetic means substantially completely withdrawn into said recessed top portion, contact means between said electromagnetic means and said diaphragm, and armature means for said electromagnetic means coupled with said contact means.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
US751128A 1967-09-15 1968-08-08 Snap switch Expired - Lifetime US3549838A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEP0043003 1967-09-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3549838A true US3549838A (en) 1970-12-22

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ID=7379090

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US751128A Expired - Lifetime US3549838A (en) 1967-09-15 1968-08-08 Snap switch

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US3549838A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1665383A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1581293A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1238338A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3867594A (en) * 1973-11-29 1975-02-18 Texas Instruments Inc Pressure sensitive switch with diaphragm and dish contact means
US3984650A (en) * 1974-07-18 1976-10-05 General Electric Company Fluid pressure diaphragm switch having plural adjustment mechanisms
US4620735A (en) * 1984-08-18 1986-11-04 Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh Door-bolting device for electrical appliances
ITTO20090624A1 (it) * 2009-08-07 2011-02-08 Illinois Tool Works Sensore di pressione per un elettrodomestico con funzione aggiuntiva di sicurezza
CN101996818A (zh) * 2009-08-18 2011-03-30 伯彻雷格梅特股份公司 气动开关、装置及生产该气动开关的方法
US20110133490A1 (en) * 2008-09-03 2011-06-09 Itw Metalflex, D.O.O. Tolmin Safety lock for a door of a household appliance, preferably of a washing machine

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2032178A (en) * 1978-10-17 1980-04-30 Lucas Industries Ltd Fluid Level Indicating Devices

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3867594A (en) * 1973-11-29 1975-02-18 Texas Instruments Inc Pressure sensitive switch with diaphragm and dish contact means
US3984650A (en) * 1974-07-18 1976-10-05 General Electric Company Fluid pressure diaphragm switch having plural adjustment mechanisms
US4115674A (en) * 1974-07-18 1978-09-19 General Electric Company Mounting device
US4620735A (en) * 1984-08-18 1986-11-04 Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh Door-bolting device for electrical appliances
US20110133490A1 (en) * 2008-09-03 2011-06-09 Itw Metalflex, D.O.O. Tolmin Safety lock for a door of a household appliance, preferably of a washing machine
US8727391B2 (en) * 2008-09-03 2014-05-20 Itw Metaflex, D.O.O. Tolmin Safety lock for a door of a household appliance, preferably of a washing machine
ITTO20090624A1 (it) * 2009-08-07 2011-02-08 Illinois Tool Works Sensore di pressione per un elettrodomestico con funzione aggiuntiva di sicurezza
WO2011017585A1 (en) * 2009-08-07 2011-02-10 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Pressure sensor for an electric household appliance with additional security function
US8904875B2 (en) 2009-08-07 2014-12-09 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Pressure sensor for an electric household appliance with additional security function
CN101996818A (zh) * 2009-08-18 2011-03-30 伯彻雷格梅特股份公司 气动开关、装置及生产该气动开关的方法
CN101996818B (zh) * 2009-08-18 2014-05-28 伯彻雷格梅特股份公司 气动开关、装置及生产该气动开关的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1238338A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-07-07
FR1581293A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-09-12
DE1665383A1 (de) 1970-12-10

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