US3622929A

US3622929A - Combination electrical control

Info

Publication number: US3622929A
Application number: US336580A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wayne A Barden; Mervin B Arisman
Original assignee: CTS Corp
Current assignee: CTS Corp
Priority date: 1964-01-08
Filing date: 1964-01-08
Publication date: 1971-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-23
Also published as: GB1089964A

Abstract

A combination electrical control having a variable resistor, a pull-push switch and an overload circuit breaker connected in tandem and having a common actuator shaft. The shaft may be rotated to alter the resistance of the variable resistor. The pull-push switch and the circuit breaker may be closed or reset when the shaft is pushed or pulled. The overload circuit breaker and the pull switch are connected in series so that the opening of either component breaks a circuit.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Wayne A. Burden; [56] References Cited Mervin B. Arisman, both of Elkhart, Ind. UNITED STATES PATENTS P 336,580 1,781,441 11/1930 Cook 337/72 1221 FM Jan-811,964 2,191,588 2/1940 Sattler 337/70 [451 9 2,236,072 3/1941 Rubenstein at al. 337/72 [73] Asslgnee CTS Corporation End's", [mt Primary Exammer-Harold Broome AtlorneyJohn J. Gaydos [54] COMBINATION ELECTRICAL CONTROL 12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs. ABSTRACT: A combination electrical control having a vanable resistor, a pull-push switch and an overload circuit breaker [52] U-S-Cl 337/3, connected in tandem and having a common actuator Shaft 337/72 The shaft may be rotated to alter the resistance of the variable i] ll.- Cl ..H0lh 71/16 resistor The Pu" puSh i h and the circuit breaker may b [50] Fleld Search" 338/162 closed or reset when the shaft is pushed or pulled. The over- -0; 200/11415, 1 16'2; 337/3 load circuit breaker and the pull switch are connected in series 73 so that the opening ofeither component breaks a circuit.

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PATENTEDNUV 23 um SHEE-I 1 OF 3 FIGURE 2.

INVENTORS WAYNE A. BARDEN MERVIN B. ARISMAN ATTORNEY PATENTEBunv 23 I9?! 3, 5 2

SHEET 2 [IF 3 FIGURE 4.

INVENTORS WAYNE A. BARDEN MERVIN B. ARISMAN ATTORNEY PATENTEDuuv 23 197i W), mllll m in L "A I llb sum 3 OF FIGURE GURE 5 FIGURE 7 INVENTORS WAYNE A. BARDEN MERVIN B. ARl-S BY My @7060,

ATTORNEY 1 COMBINATION ELECTRICAL CONTROL "turally and operatively incorporating a variable. resistor, an

on-off switch, and an overload circuit breaker.

In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the demand for combination electrical controls. This has been brought about by several factors. Firstly, with the high cost of labor, a need has arisen to combine several components together in order to decrease the assembly time for mounting the components as well as the overall cost of the components. Secondly, with the introduction of portable television receivers and the like, it is necessary that the weight of each component employed therewith be decreased as much as possible. Thirdly, with the increasing trend toward microminiaturization and compactness. there is a need to decrease the size of each component as well as to utilize advantageously certain structural features for several functions, e.g., in one combination electrical control a shaft may be employed 'for varying the resistance of a variable resistor, for operating an on-off switch, and for resetting an overload circuit breaker. Further, such combination electrical control only requires one mounting plate since the switch, the overload circuit breaker, and the variable resistor are connected in tandem.

Several types of combination electrical controls are currently available on the market today. One type of these combination electrical controls is disclosed and claimed in our US. Pat. No. 2,958,748, issued Nov. 1, I960, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Although these combination electrical controls have been satisfactory for opening a circuit whenever an overload condition occurred, many of the controls heretofore available have left much to be desired since a defective circuit may be forcefully energized by physically holding the circuit breaker in the closed position for an extended period whenever it is desired to keep the circuit energized. For example, whenever a combination electrical control employing as oneof the components a pull-pushtype on-off switch is subjected to an overload condition, the shaft is urged'into the pushed-in position by the overload circuit breaker to open the contacts of the switch as well as the contacts of the circuit breaker. The difficulty with such a combination electrical control is that both the switch and circuit breaker may be intentionally held in the pulled-out or closed position by merely holding the shaft of the control in the pulled-out position. The high current in the circuit produced by the overload or by a defective portion of the circuit when the switch is held in the energized position can rapidly deteriorate the insulation of other circuit components and sometimes create a disastrous condition. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a combination electrical control wherein the coaction between the switch and the overload circuit breaker prevents intentional or unintentional holding of the circuit breaker in the energized position.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination electrical control.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination electrical control having an overload circuit breaker adapted to open the circuit when an on-off switch thereof is intentionally or unintentionally held in the closed position.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination electrical control wherein a common actuator shaft controlling the resistance of a variable resistor and an on-off switch of the control is adapted to close or reset the overload circuit breaker only when the shaft is operated in a direction to open the switch.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination electrical control employing a pull-pushtype on-off switch wherein the shaft must be pushed into the control to close or reset the overload circuit breaker and pulled outwardly from the control to close the switch.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination electrical control comprising a variable resistor, a pulLpush-type on-off switch. and an overload circuit breaker wherein anew mode of operation is involved to operate the switch and reset the overload circuit breaker.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination electrical control wherein the utility of the combination electrical control is-increased by an improvement in the operation of the cooperating members.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a combination electrical control with a pull-push-type on-off switch which may be opened and closed without affecting the setting of the variable resistor or the overload circuit breaker.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification.

In general, the combination electrical control comprises a variable resistor, a pull-push switch, and an overload circuit breaker connected in tandem and having a common actuator shaft and one mounting plate. Irrespective of whether the pullpush switch is in the on or off position or whether the overload circuit breaker is opened or closed, the common actuator shaft may be rotated to alter the resistance of the variable resistor. The pull-push switch and the overload circuit breaker v of the combination electrical control are arranged and correoverload circuit breaker may be closed or reset only when the shaft is pushed into the conlated in such a manner that the trol, the movement thereof simultaneously opening the switch. After the overload circuit breaker has been reset, the shaft may be pulled outwardly of the control for closing the circuit. The overload circuit breaker and the pull-push switch are connected in series so that the opening of either component breaks the circuit.

For a better understanding of the present invention,

reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals have been applied to like parts and wherein:

FIG. I is an isometric view of a combination electrical control built in accord with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectionalized side elevational view of the combination electrical control of FIG. I showing the construction of a variable resistor, a pull-push switch, and an overload circuit breaker in closed position;

FIG. 3 is aside view similar to FIG. 2 except that the overload circuit breaker is shown in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a side view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 except that the shaft is in .the pushed-in position closing the contacts of the overload circuit breaker;

FIG. Sis an exploded view of the overload circuit breaker;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken along line Vl-Vl of FIG. 2 assuming that FIG. 2 is shown in full; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the combination electrical control of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a combination electrical control, generally indicated at 10, comprising a variable resistor 20 (see FIG. 2), switch 30, and an overload circuit breaker 40, all arranged in tandem and operable by a common actuator shaft ll. The mounting for the combination electrical control 10 is of conventional construction and comprises a ground plate 12 provided with a locating tab 13 for obtaining proper registry on a panel. Projecting forwardly of and fixedly secured to the ground plate I2 is a flanged mounting bushing 14 rotatably supporting the common actuator shaft 11, the front portion 14a of the bushing being externally threaded for panel mounting of the control by suitable means such as a not-shown nut. A cup-shaped metal cover 15 enclosing the variable resistor 20 is provided with a plurality of tabs I6 extending forwardly thereof and bent over the outer edges of the ground plate 12 for fixedly securing the cover 15 to the ground plate 12. As is customary, the shaft projects forwardly beyond the bushing 14 for manual actuation of the combination electrical control by the operator and extends rearwardly thereof for operating the a pull-push-type on-off variable resistor 20, the pull-push switch 30, and the overload circuit breaker 40.

Considering first the variable resistor 20 (see FIG. 2), it is of conventional construction and comprises a stator 21 including an arcuate resistance element 22 and a collector ring 23 concentrically disposed with respect to the resistance element, both the resistance element 22 and the ring 23 being supported by a terminal plate 24 interposed between the cover 15 and the ground plate 12. Terminals 25a and 2511 (see FIG. 1) are secured respectively to the ends 2211 and 22b of the armate resistance element 22 by suitable means such as rivets, the rivets also securing the resistance element to the terminal plate 24. A center terminal 250 is secured to the collector ring 23 and, in the present embodiment, the terminal 250 is an integral part thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a rotor 26 comprising a contactor 27 and a molded driver 28 in fixed relationship to the contactor and in limited sliding relationship with the shaft 11 is employed for moving the contac tor intermediate the ends of the arcuate resistance element 22. As typical, the contactor 27 is provided with a pair of resilient arms 27!: and 27b engaging the resistance element 22 and the collector ring 23 respectively for connecting electrically the element to the terminal 25c. A circular runner 29 projecting rearwardly of the driver 28 and an integral part thereof engages the inner surface of the rear wall 15a of the cup-shaped metal cover 15 and provides a bearing surface for the rotor 26 when rotated by the common actuator shaft 11.

From the above description, it will be apparent that since the common actuator shaft 11 is mounted for both rotational and axial movement it must be splined to the driver 28 for constraining the rotor 26 and the contactor to rotate with the actuator shaft 11. To this end, the shaft 11 is provided with a noncircular cross section 110 fitting into a correspondingly shaped opening in the driver 28 and may be moved axially a distance equal to the length of the noncircular shaft portion without disturbing the setting of the variable resistor 20.

Referring now to the pull-push switch 30 secured in contiguous tandem relationship to the variable resistor 20, it comprises a cup-shaped member 31 preferably of electrically nonconductive molded material and partially closed at its open front end by an insulator disc 32 flatwise overlying the outer surface of the rear wall 15a of the cover 15 of the variable resistor. A pair of spaced

terminals

33 and 34 are fixedly secured to the rear wall 31a of the cup-shaped member 31 and the ends thereof constitute a pair of contacts projecting from the inner face of the rear wall of the cup-shaped member 31. For the purpose of electrically connecting the pair of contacts to each other, a bridging contactor 35 movable back and forth into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts by a switch actuator 36 is employed. Reciprocal movement of the common actuator shaft 11 moves the switch actuator 36 axially back and forth causing coaction with the bridging contactor 35 for moving the contactor 35 with a snap-action to and from its bridging position. The pair of

terminals

33 and 34 are provided with

outer portions

33a and 34a extending rearwardly of the cup-shaped member 31 respectively for connecting one side of the control to the circuit and for electrically connecting the switch 30 to the overload circuit breaker 40. It is to be understood, however, that the electrical connections to the switch 30 and the overload circuit breaker 40 may be externally made. Further details of the variable resistor 20 and the pull-push switch 30 are disclosed in our US. Pat. No. 2,88 l ,280.

The overload circuit breaker 40 as best seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings comprises a movable contact arm 41 and a stationary contact arm 42 mounted on a supporting plate 43. A cylin drical housing 44 fixedly secures the supporting plate 43 in spaced relationship to the rear wall 310 of the cup-shaped member 31. The front portion of the cylindrical housing 44 (see FIGS. 1 to 4) is turned inwardly intermediate the rear wall a of the cup-shaped metal cover 15 and the insulator disc 32 and is provided with a plurality of notches 44a in registry with a plurality of switch securing ears 15b punched out of and projecting rearwardly of the rear wall 15a of the cover 15. After the front end of the cylindrical housing 44, the insulator disc 32, and the cup-shaped member 31 of the switch 30 are assembled against the rear wall 15a of the cup-shaped metal cover 15, the securing ears 1512 (see FIG. 1) are clinched outwardly in suitable notches provided in the outer lip of the cupshaped member 31 to secure the cylindrical housing 44 and the cup-shaped member 31 to the cover 15. The other end of the cylindrical housing 44 is provided with a plurality of tabs 45 in registry with a plurality of peripheral notches 46 in the supporting plate, the tabs being folded over the supporting plate 43 for fixedly securing the supporting plate 43 to the housing 44 and to the variable resistor 20 and the pull-push switch 30.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the movable contact arm 41 of U-shaped configuration and of bimetallic material comprises a first lamination consisting of an alloy having a relatively low thermal coefficient of expansion, such as Invar, and bonded to the first lamination is a second lamination consisting of an alloy having a relatively high thermal coefiicient of expansion, e.g., a nickel-chromium-iron alloy. The stationary contact arm 42 of suitable electrically conductive material is provided with a pair of tabs 47 received in a pair of suitable slots 48 in the supporting plate 43, the tabs being folded over the supporting plate 43 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings to secure the stationary contact arm 42 to the supporting plate.

For the purpose of electrically connecting the stationary contact arm 42 to one of the terminals of the switch 30, the stationary contact arm is provided with a depending terminal 49 disposed in a slot 50 in the supporting plate 43. The slot 50 is slightly larger than the cross section of the terminal 49 so as to receive the distal end of the outer portion 34a of the terminal 34 also disposed in the opening 50 (see FIGS. 1, 5, and 6.) The contact resistance between the outer portion 34a of the terminal 34 of the switch 30 and the terminal 49 of the stationary contact arm 42 may be decreased by connecting the contiguous portions to each other in a suitable manner, e.g., by spot welding or soldering.

In accord with the present invention, one end 41a of the contact arm 41 is fixedly secured to the supporting plate 43 and the free end 41b thereof is disposed in operable engagement with an upstanding member 4211 of the stationary contact arm 42. Preferably and as illustrated in the drawings, the free end 41b of the contact arm 41 is provided with a latch or hooked portion for latching to the upstanding member 4211 of the stationary contact arm 42. For fastening the contact arm 41 to the supporting plate, the one end 41a of the contact arm 41 is provided with a slot 410 for receiving a terminal 51, the inner end of the terminal 51 being provided with a pair of diametrically offset tabs 51a for holding the contact arm 41 against the inner surface of the supporting plate 43. The portion of the terminal 51 extending below the supporting plate 43 is crimped in a suitable manner to secure the terminal 51 thereto.

It will be appreciated that to engage the hooked portion of the movable contact arm 41 with the upstanding member 42a of the stationary contact arm 42, i.e., toreset the overload circuit breaker 40, the shaft 11 must be pushed inwardly into the combination electrical control 10 to move the free end 41b of the movable contact arm 41 from an open position as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings to a closed position as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. In order to insulate the shaft from the movable contact, preferably an insulator member 52 is interposed between the outer rear wall of the cup-shaped member 31 and the movable contact arm 41. The insulator member 52 is provided with a pair of spaced notches 52a for receiving the

outer portions

33a and 34a of the terminals extending rearwardly of the cup-shaped member 31. A U-shaped portion of the insulating member is cut out to provide an inwardly extending tongue 52b engageable with the end 11b of the shaft 11 as best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Another tongue 41d aligned with the axis of the shaft 11 is integrally secured to the movable contact arm 41. It is to be understood, however, that the insulator member can be eliminated by making the shaft of an electrically nonconductive material or by providing insulating means, e.g., an insulating cap, on the end of the shaft adjacent to the circuit breaker. Upon pushing the shaft 11 into the control, the end 11b engages the tongue 52b of the insulator member 52 and deflects the tongue 52b and the member 52 as seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings until the tongue 52b engages the tongue 41d of the movable contact arm 41. Further movement of the shaft 11 causes the hooked portion of the free end 41b of the contact arm 41 to engage the upstanding member 42a of the stationary contact arm 41 thus resetting the overload circuit breaker 40.

in operation, assuming that the overload circuit protector is closed, the common actuator shaft 11 is pulled outwardly to connect a source of voltage to the circuit causing the switch actuator 36 to move the bridging contactor 35 into engagement with the contacts formed on the ends of the

terminals

33 and 34 of the pull-push switch 30. While the shaft 11 of the switch 30 is in the pulled or energized position, the common actuator shaft 11 may be rotated for moving the arms of the contactor 27 intermediate the ends of the arcuate resistance element 22 without altering the operating condition of the switch or the overload circuit breaker. When an overload condition occurs in the circuit sufficient to open the circuit breaker 40, the movable contact arm 41 disengages from the stationary contact 42 due to the relative positions of the first and second laminations with respect to the stationary contact arm and assumes the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Since the overload circuit breaker 40 is in series with the switch 30 and the variable resistor 20 (see FIG. 7,) the opening of the overload circuit breaker 40 opens the circuit.

In order to reset the overload circuit breaker 40, the common actuator shaft 11 is pushed into the combination electrical control causing the end 11b of the shaft 11 to engage the tongue 52b of the insulator member 52 which in turn engages the tongue 4ld of the movable contact arm 41 and -rcsets the circuit breaker 40. Inasmuch as the shaft is pushed inwardly, the switch actuator 36 shifts the bridging contactor 35 away from the contacts on the ends of the

terminals

33 and 34 and opens the switch. Thus even though the overload circuit breaker 40 has been reset, the circuit is not connected to the source of voltage since the switch in series with the overload protector is in the off position. Only after the common actuator shaft 11 is pulled outwardly of the combination electrical control to shift the bridging contact 35 into engagement with the contacts of the switch is the source of voltage connected to the circuit. Should the overload condition continue to exist, the free end 41b of the movable contact arm 41 of the overload circuit breaker 40 being spaced from the end 11b of the shaft 11 is free to become disengaged. Therefore, an operator slowly operating or intentionally holding the common actuator shaft 11 in the pulled-out position to maintain the bridging contactor 35 against the contacts of the pullpush-type on-off switch 30 is not able to hold the overload circuit breaker in the closed position inasmuch as the movable contact arm 41 and the switch actuator 36 coact with the common shaft in such a manner to prevent such action.

From the above description, it will be apparent that in view of the arrangement and correlation of the parts of the overload circuit breaker, the pull-push-type on-oft' switch, and the variable resistor that the utility of the combination electrical control is increased considerably due to the additional coaction therebetween.

While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications are likely to occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a combined electrical control, the combination of a housing, a switch disposed in the housing having a pair of stationary contacts and a bridging contactor engageable with the stationary contacts, means mounting said bridging contactor for snap action movement in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the shaft, an overload circuit breaker disposed in the housing having a stationary member and a bistable movable member, said bistable movable member being movable between an open position out of engagement with said stationary member and a reset position engaging said stationary member, means for moving said bistable movable member to said reset position after said bridging contactor has been spaced from one of said pair of stationary contacts, said means for moving including a shaft journaled in the housing for rotatable and reciprocable movement, said bistable movable member being operatively engageable by the shaft, means mounting said shaft for reciprocable displacement between first and second stable positions, movement of said shaft to said first stable position bringing about movement of said bridging contactor into electrical engagement with said stationary contacts to close said switch, movement of said shaft to said second stable position electrically disconnecting said bridging contactor from said stationary contacts to open said switch, said bistable movable member in said reset position being responsive to an electrical current exceeding a predetermined value to move from said reset to said open position, movement of said shaft to said second stable position moving said bistable movable member from said open position to said reset position if said bistable movable member is in said open position.

2. In a combined switch and circuit breaker, the combination of a housing, a first supporting member disposed in the housing, a pair of stationary contacts fixedly secured to the supporting member, a bridging contactor adapted to move into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts for opening and closing a circuit, a rotatable shaft disposed in the housing for limited axial movement, means mounting said bridging contactor for snap action movement in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the shaft, a switch actuator carried by the shaft for moving the contactor into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts upon axial movement of the shaft, the shaft being adapted to rotate and move simultaneously the actuator regardless of the angular position of the shaft, a second supporting member in spaced relationship to the first supporting member, a stationary member fixedly secured to the second supporting member, a bimetallic member having one end fixedly secured to the second supporting member and a free end provided with means for engaging the stationary member, the bimetallic member being operatively associated with the shaft, and means for moving said bimetallic member into engagement with said stationary member after said bridging contactor has moved out of engagement with one of said pair of stationary contacts whereby upon movement of the shaft axially in one direction the switch actuator carried by the shaft moves the contactor away from the stationary contacts to open the switch and simultaneously the shaft urges the free end of the bimetallic member into engagement with the stationary member for resetting the circuit breaker and upon movement of the shaft in the other direction the switch actuator moves the con tactor toward the stationary contacts to close the switch.

3. in a combined electrical control, the combination of a housing; an axially movable shaft journaled in the housing; a pull-push switch disposed in the housing comprising a stationary contact, a bridging contactor, and a switch actuator operatively associated with the axial movement of the shaft for urging the bridging contactor into and out of engagement with the stationary contact; means mounting said bridging contacbreaker disposed in the member, and a movable tionary member and disengageable from the stationary member in response to an overload condition, and means for moving said movable member into engagement with said stationary member after said bridging contactor has moved out of engagement with one of said pair of stationary contacts whereby after the movable member is disengaged from the stationary member of the overload circuit breaker movement of the shaft axially in one direction resets the circuit breaker, such movement disconnecting the bridging contactor from the stationary contact of the switch.

4. in a combined electrical control, the combination of a housing; an axially movable shaft joumaled in the housing; a pull-push switch disposed in the housing comprising a stationary means connectable to one side of the circuit, and a movable means operatively associated with the shaft for electrically connecting the stationary means to the other side of the circuit; means mounting said movable means for snap-action movement in a direction opposite to the. direction of movement of said shaft; an overload circuit breaker disposed in the housing comprising a stationary member, and a bimetallic member having a one end in spaced relationship to the stationary member and a free end engageable with the stationary member upon axial movement of the shaft; and means for moving said bimetallic member into engagement with said stationary member after said movable means has moved out of engagement with one of said pair of stationary contacts, the coaction of the shaft with the movable means of the switch and the bimetallic member of the overload circuit protector being such that to reset the circuit breaker with axial movement of the shaft in one direction the movable means of the switch is disconnected from the stationary means and upon movement of the shaft in the other direction to close the switch the shaft is so disposed with respect to the circuit breaker as to permit the free end of the bimetallic member to become disengaged from the stationary member in response to an overload circuit condition.

5. The combined electrical control of claim 4 wherein the bimetallic member is a C-shaped bimetallic member having one end of the C in fixed spaced relationship to the stationary member and the other end of the C forming the free end thereof engageable with the stationary member.

6. A combination electrical control comprising a housing; a shaft rotatably and axially joumaled in the housing; a variable resistor disposed in the housing comprising a resistance element, and means operatively associated with the rotatable movement of the shaft for wiping the resistance element intermediate the ends thereof; a pull-push switch disposed in the housing in tandem to the variable resistor comprising a pair of stationary contacts, a bridging contactor, and a switch actuator operatively associated with the axial movement of the shaft forelectrically urging the bridging contactor into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts; and an overload circuit breaker disposed in the housing in tandem to the variable resistor and the pull-push switch comprising a stationary member, a C-shaped bimetallic member-having a fixed end in spaced relationship to the stationary member and a free end engageable with the stationary member, means electrically insulating the end of the shaft from the bimetallic member of the overload circuit breaker, the overload circuit breaker being resettable upon movement of the shaft in an axial direction into the housing regardless of the setting of the variable resistor, and means for moving said bimetallic member into engagement with said stationary member after said bridging contactor has moved out of engagement with one of said pair of stationary contacts, the movement of the shaft axially into the housing simultaneously disconnecting the bridging contactor from the stationary contacts to open the switch and resetting the overload circuit breaker by urging the bimetallic member into engagement with the stationary member and upon moving the shaft axially in the other direction to close the switch the shaft is disposed with respect to the bimetallic member to permit the overload circuit breaker to open in response to an overload circuit condition.

7. A combination switch and circuit breaker arrangement for the power-supply system of a television receiver, or the like, comprising: an on-off switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact shiftable along a predetermined path between an open position and a closed position in which it engages said fixed contact to establish an electrical connection through said switch; a circuit breaker effectively connected in series relation with said switch contacts, said circuit breaker comprising a first terminal and a bistable second terminal shiftable along a predetermined different path between an open position in which it is out of engagement with said first terminal and a reset position in which it engages said first terminal and responsive, when so engaged, to an electrical current exceeding a predetermined value to shift from said reset to said open position; and a bistable actuator displaceable between first and second stable positions comprising an operator engageable with said movable switch contact for shifting said movable contact along its said predetermined path between its said open position and its said closed position to establish said electrical connection in said first stable position and to open said electrical connection in said second stable position of said actuator, means mounting said movable contact for snap action movement in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the actuator, said actuator further comprising a driver engageable with said bistable terminal for shifting said bistable terminal along its said predetermined different path to its said reset position, in response to displacement of said actuator to said second stable position, after said movable switch contact shifts to its said open position if, at that instant, said bistable terminal is in its said open position.

8. A combination switch and circuit breaker arrangement for the power-supply system of a television receiver, or the like, comprising: an on-off switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact shiftable along a predetermined path between an open position and a closed position in which it engages said fixed contact to establish an electrical connection through said switch; a circuit breaker effectively connected in series relation with said switch contacts, said circuit breaker comprising a first terminal and a bistable second terminal shiftable along a predetermined different path between an open position in which it is out of engagement with said first terminal and a reset position in which it engages said first terminal and responsive, when so engaged, to an electrical current exceeding a predetermined value to shift from said reset to said open position; and a bistable actuator displaceable along its principal axis between first and second stable positions comprising an operator engageable with said movable switch contact for shifting said movable contact along its said predetermined path between its said open position and its said closed position to establish said electrical connection in response to axial displacement of said actuator to its said first stable position and to open said electrical connection in response to axial displacement of said actuator to its said second stable position, said actuator further comprising a driver engageable with said bistable terminal for shifting said bistable terminal along its said predetermined different path to its said reset position, in response to axial displacement of said actuator to said second stable position, after said movable switch contact shifts to its said open position if, at that instant, said bistable terminal is in its said open position.

9. A combination switch and circuit breaker arrangement for the power-supply system of a television receiver, or the like, comprising: an on-off switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact shiftable along a path normal to a reference axis between an open position and a closed position in which it engages said fixed contact to establish an electrical connection through said switch; a circuit breaker efiectively connected in series relation with said switch contacts, said circuit breaker comprising a first terminal and a bistable second terminal shiftable along a path parallel to said reference axis between an open position in which it is out of engagement with said first terminal and a reset position in which it engages said first terminal and responsive, when so engaged, to an electrical current exceeding a predetermined value to shift from said reset to said open position; and a manually operable bistable actuator displaceable along said reference axis between first and second stable positions comprising an operator engageable with said movable switch contact for shifting said movable contact along its said normal path between its said open position and its said closed position to establish said electrical connection in said first stable position and to open said electrical connection in said second stable position of said actuator, said actuator further comprising a driver engageable with said bistable terminal for shifting said bistable terminal along its said parallel path to its said reset position. in response to displacement of said actuator to said second stable position, after said movable switch contact shifts to its said open position if, at that instant, said bistable terminal is in its said open position.

10. An overload-protected electric switch comprising a housing, a pair of fixed electric contacts inside the housing, one of said contacts being a circuit breaker contact, a thermally responsive bimetallic conductor strip secured at one end to the other contact, the strip having a laterally projecting contact end normally hooked onto said breaker contact, said strip being adapted to bend and spring away from the breaker contact when overheated by excessive electric current flowing therethrough, a third fixed contact beside one of said pair of fixed contacts, a movable bridging contact in the housing, a control shaft for moving the movable contact into and out of engagement with said third contact and the fixed contact beside it, a resilient reset strip extending lengthwise of the conductor strip along the side thereof remote from said circuit breaker contact, means in the housing anchoring one end of the reset strip adjacent said other fixed contact, the reset strip being spaced from the other strip while said contact end is hooked onto the breaker contact, and means actuated by the control shaft for bending the reset strip to force its free end toward the adjacent end of the conductor strip when the shaft is operated to open the switch, whereby if the conductor strip has become unhooked from the breaker contact the free end of the reset strip will push said contact end back into hookedon engagement with the breaker contact.

11. An overload protected electric switch comprising a housing, a pair of fixed electric contacts inside the housing,

' one of said contacts being a circuit breaker contact, a thermally responsive bimetallic conductor strip secured at one end to the other contact, the strip having a laterally projecting contact end normally hooked onto said breaker contact, said strip being adapted to bend and spring away from the breaker contact when overheated by excessive electric current flowing therethrough, a movable contact in the housing, a control shaft for moving the movable contact into and out of engagement with one of the fixed contacts, a resilient reset strip ex tending lengthwise of the conductor strip along the side thereof remote from said circuit breaker contact, means in the housing anchoring one end of the reset strip adjacent said other fixed contact, the reset strip being spaced from the other strip while said contact end is hooked onto the breaker contact. and means mounted on the rear end of the control shaft and engageable with the central portion of the reset strip for bending the reset strip to force its free end toward the adjacent end of the conductor strip when the shaft is operated to open the switch, whereby if the conductor strip has become unhooked from the breaker contact the free end of the reset strip will push said contact end back into hooked-on engagement with the breaker contact.

12. An overload protected electric switch comprising a housing, a pair of fixed electric contacts inside the housing, one of said contacts being a circuit breaker contact, a thermally responsive bimetallic conductor strip secured at one end to the other contact, the strip having a laterally projecting contact end normally hooked onto said breaker contact, said strip being adapted to bend and spring away from the breaker contact when overheated by excessive electric current flowing therethrough, a movable contact in the housing, an axially movable control shaft for moving the movable contact into and out of engagement with one of the fixed contacts, a resilient reset strip extending lengthwise of the conductor strip along the side thereof remote from said circuit breaker contact, means in the housing anchoring one end of the reset strip adjacent said other fixed contact, the reset strip being spaced from the other strip while said contact end is hooked onto the breaker contact, said strips being disposed beside the shaft and extending across it, and means actuated by the control shaft for bending the reset strip to force its free end toward the adjacent end of the conductor strip when the shaft is operated to open the switch, whereby if the conductor strip has become unhooked from the breaker contact the free end of the reset strip will push said contact end back into hooked-on engagement with the breaker contact.

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Claims

2. In a combined switch and circuit breaker, the combination of a housing, a first supporting member disposed in the housing, a pair of stationary contacts fixedly secured to the supporting member, a bridging contactor adapted to move into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts for opening and closing a circuit, a rotatable shaft disposed in the housing for limited axial movement, means mounting said bridging contactor for snap action movement in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the shaft, a switch actuator carried by the shaft for moving the contactor into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts upon axial movement of the shaft, the shaft being adapted to rotate and move simultaneously the actuator regardless of the angular position of the shaft, a second supporting member in spaced relationship to the first supporting member, a stationary member fixedly secured to the second supporting member, a bimetallic member having one end fixedly secured to the second supporting member and a free end provided with means for engaging the stationary member, the bimetallic member being operatively associated with the shaft, and means for moving said bimetallic member into engagement with said stationary member after said bridging contactor has moved out of engagement with one of said pair of stationary contacts whereby upon movement of the shaft axially in one direction the switch actuator carried by the shaft moves the contactor away from the stationary contacts to open the switch and simultaneously the shaft urges the free end of the bimetallic member into engagement with the stationary member for resetting the circuit breaker and upon movement of the shaft in the other direction the switch actuator moves the contactor toward the stationary contacts to close the switch.

3. In a combined electrical control, the combination of a housing; an axially movable shaft journaled in the housing; a pull-push switch disposed in the housing comprising a stationary contact, a bridging contactor, and a switch actuator operatively associated with the axial movement of the shaft for urging the bridging contactor into and out of engagement with the stationary contact; means mounting said bridging contactor for snap-action movement in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the shaft, an overload circuit breaker disposed in the housing comprising a stationary member, and a movable member engageable with the stationary member and disengageable from the stationary member in response to an overload condition, and means for moving said movable member into engagement with said stationary member after said bridging contactor has moved out of engagement with one of said pair of stationary contacts whereby after the movable member is disengaged from the stationary member of the overload circuit breaker movement of the shaft axially in one direction resets the circuit breaker, such movement disconnecting the bridging contactor from the stationary contact of the switch.

4. In a combined electrical control, the combination of a housing; an axially movable shaft journaled in the housing; a pull-push switch disposed in the housing comprising a stationary means connectable to one side of the circuit, and a movable means operatively associated with the shaft for electrically connecting the stationary means to the other side of the circuit; means mounting said movable means for snap-action movemeNt in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said shaft; an overload circuit breaker disposed in the housing comprising a stationary member, and a bimetallic member having a one end in spaced relationship to the stationary member and a free end engageable with the stationary member upon axial movement of the shaft; and means for moving said bimetallic member into engagement with said stationary member after said movable means has moved out of engagement with one of said pair of stationary contacts, the coaction of the shaft with the movable means of the switch and the bimetallic member of the overload circuit protector being such that to reset the circuit breaker with axial movement of the shaft in one direction the movable means of the switch is disconnected from the stationary means and upon movement of the shaft in the other direction to close the switch the shaft is so disposed with respect to the circuit breaker as to permit the free end of the bimetallic member to become disengaged from the stationary member in response to an overload circuit condition.

6. A combination electrical control comprising a housing; a shaft rotatably and axially journaled in the housing; a variable resistor disposed in the housing comprising a resistance element, and means operatively associated with the rotatable movement of the shaft for wiping the resistance element intermediate the ends thereof; a pull-push switch disposed in the housing in tandem to the variable resistor comprising a pair of stationary contacts, a bridging contactor, and a switch actuator operatively associated with the axial movement of the shaft for electrically urging the bridging contactor into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts; and an overload circuit breaker disposed in the housing in tandem to the variable resistor and the pull-push switch comprising a stationary member, a C-shaped bimetallic member having a fixed end in spaced relationship to the stationary member and a free end engageable with the stationary member, means electrically insulating the end of the shaft from the bimetallic member of the overload circuit breaker, the overload circuit breaker being resettable upon movement of the shaft in an axial direction into the housing regardless of the setting of the variable resistor, and means for moving said bimetallic member into engagement with said stationary member after said bridging contactor has moved out of engagement with one of said pair of stationary contacts, the movement of the shaft axially into the housing simultaneously disconnecting the bridging contactor from the stationary contacts to open the switch and resetting the overload circuit breaker by urging the bimetallic member into engagement with the stationary member and upon moving the shaft axially in the other direction to close the switch the shaft is disposed with respect to the bimetallic member to permit the overload circuit breaker to open in response to an overload circuit condition.

9. A combination switch and circuit breaker arrangement for the power-supply system of a television receiver, or the like, comprising: an on-off switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact shiftable along a path normal to a reference axis between an open position and a closed position in which it engages said fixed contact to establish an electrical connection through said switch; a circuit breaker effectively connected in series relation with said switch contacts, said circuit breaker comprising a first terminal and a bistable second terminal shiftable along a path parallel to said reference axis between an open position in which it is out of engagement with said first terminal and a reset position in which it engages said first terminal and responsive, when so engaged, to an electrical current exceeding a predetermined value to shift from said reset to said open position; and a manually operable bistable actuator displaceable along said reference axis between first and second stable positions comprising an operator engageable with said movable switch contact for Shifting said movable contact along its said normal path between its said open position and its said closed position to establish said electrical connection in said first stable position and to open said electrical connection in said second stable position of said actuator, said actuator further comprising a driver engageable with said bistable terminal for shifting said bistable terminal along its said parallel path to its said reset position, in response to displacement of said actuator to said second stable position, after said movable switch contact shifts to its said open position if, at that instant, said bistable terminal is in its said open position.

10. An overload-protected electric switch comprising a housing, a pair of fixed electric contacts inside the housing, one of said contacts being a circuit breaker contact, a thermally responsive bimetallic conductor strip secured at one end to the other contact, the strip having a laterally projecting contact end normally hooked onto said breaker contact, said strip being adapted to bend and spring away from the breaker contact when overheated by excessive electric current flowing therethrough, a third fixed contact beside one of said pair of fixed contacts, a movable bridging contact in the housing, a control shaft for moving the movable contact into and out of engagement with said third contact and the fixed contact beside it, a resilient reset strip extending lengthwise of the conductor strip along the side thereof remote from said circuit breaker contact, means in the housing anchoring one end of the reset strip adjacent said other fixed contact, the reset strip being spaced from the other strip while said contact end is hooked onto the breaker contact, and means actuated by the control shaft for bending the reset strip to force its free end toward the adjacent end of the conductor strip when the shaft is operated to open the switch, whereby if the conductor strip has become unhooked from the breaker contact the free end of the reset strip will push said contact end back into hooked-on engagement with the breaker contact.

11. An overload protected electric switch comprising a housing, a pair of fixed electric contacts inside the housing, one of said contacts being a circuit breaker contact, a thermally responsive bimetallic conductor strip secured at one end to the other contact, the strip having a laterally projecting contact end normally hooked onto said breaker contact, said strip being adapted to bend and spring away from the breaker contact when overheated by excessive electric current flowing therethrough, a movable contact in the housing, a control shaft for moving the movable contact into and out of engagement with one of the fixed contacts, a resilient reset strip extending lengthwise of the conductor strip along the side thereof remote from said circuit breaker contact, means in the housing anchoring one end of the reset strip adjacent said other fixed contact, the reset strip being spaced from the other strip while said contact end is hooked onto the breaker contact, and means mounted on the rear end of the control shaft and engageable with the central portion of the reset strip for bending the reset strip to force its free end toward the adjacent end of the conductor strip when the shaft is operated to open the switch, whereby if the conductor strip has become unhooked from the breaker contact the free end of the reset strip will push said contact end back into hooked-on engagement with the breaker contact.