US3639716A - Transfer switch package assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A transfer switch package assembly employs a printed circuit panel support buried in the assembly base and supporting on one end a plurality of binding posts and at the other metalsurrounded holes for quick and accurate connection of conductive paths from said posts to connector taps or pins on a transfer switch body.

Description

O U110: States Patent 1 51 3,639,716 Rasmussen 1 1 Feb. 1, 1972 [S4] TRANSFER SWITCH PACKAGE 3,417,192 12/1968 Elm ,.174/59 ASSEMBLY 2,907,855 10/1959 Hedges ..200/l68 R 3,553,409 1/1971 Learfeld.... ....200/l68 G [72] Inventor: Harry R. Rasmussen, 422 Fife Heights 3,310,712 3/1967 Paddock ..174/ 153 G Drive N.E., Tacoma, Wash. 98222 Primary ExaminerH. 0. Jones [221 1971 Attorney-Ford E. Smith [21 Appl. No.: 128,758

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl ..200/l68 13,339/17 F A "ansfer switch P 'f assembly emphys a Primed l Cl H 0 1h 2 pane! support buried in the assembly base and supporting on I} one end a plurality of i di gp d at h other metabsup held of Search "200/168 168 168 168 G; rounded holes for quick and accurate connection of conduc- 174/59, 153 339/17 F tive paths from said posts to connector taps or pins on a transfer switch body.- [56] References Cited 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,353,069 11/1 67 Slavin ..339/l7 F X 'I'RANSFER SWI'ICII PACKAGE ASSEMBLY SUMMARY ()I-"I'Hli INVENTION Transfer switch assemblies of the prior art have been cumbersome and bulky and have required running by wire the numerous circuits from switch taps, an operation requiring skill and care to insure connection of the properly related posts and taps. It has been a prime object of this invention to provide a compact, miniaturized, easily manufactured and simply installed transfer switch package assembly. The employment of a printed circuit panel between the binding posts and the switch taps and the manner in which such panel is incorporated is the principal feature of this invention.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective vie of the switch assembled;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the base block of the switch;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the base block on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the printed circuit panel;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the switch unit;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the base block and circuit panel; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an assembled switch, parts being omitted for convenience of illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The dielectric base block 10 has a shallow underside cavity or chamber 12 which, at its forward end, is associated with the upright slot aperture l4. On the upper side of block 10 forward of slot 14 is a canted or sloped base 16 having notch 18 therein to receive and mount switch unit 20 with its stem 22 being disposed in said notch. The body or case of switch unit 20 rests on base I6 and against the rear of notch 18 between sidewalls 24, 24. Stem 22 is threaded and receives washer 28 and, ultimately, nut 30 when the assembly is completed.

Base block 10 to the rear of slot 14 has two groups of hollow bosses 32, 32 which receive and encase insulatively threaded binding posts 34, 36 and 38. Posts 34-38 are introduced into the bosses and their cavities from beneath. Posts 34, 36 and 38 are threaded to receive connector screws 40. The bosses 32, 32 are separated by channel 42 in which wires are threaded in making connections to the posts 34-38.

Referring to FIG. 4, circuit diagram support 50 has six broad metallic areas 52 printed thereon, each to receive and have soldered thereto one of the posts 34-38 of the two groups. Suitable printed metal conductor paths 54 extend from each of the areas 52 to a metal-encircled port 56. Support 50 is formed of a thin plastic material such as Mylar. At its rear it is quite broad (as shown in FIG. 4) and forwardly is necked at 58 and terminates in tab 60.

As may be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, support 50 has its main body disposed in cavity 12, its neck 58 lies between the protuberances 62, 62 and in slot 14 with the tab end 60 bent up and pressed against the rear of switch body 20. The latter has rearstanding taps or pins 21 which enter holes 56 and with solder connections therearound being formed, complete circuits between bosses 34-38 along paths 54.

When assembly has reached the pint described a thin nonconductive filler plate 13 is inserted into cavity 12 to conceal the underside of support 50 and slot 14. Such a plate may be supplied with protected pressure-sensitive adhesive 15 for ready mounting of the switch body, as on the side of a telephone instrument for example. Base 10 is, however, also provided with holes 64, 64 to receive screws whereby mounting may be nonadhesively accomplished.

Switch 20 is of the double-pole, double-throw type and includes toggle lever 66 protruding from stem 22.

Cover 70 has a forward hole to fit over stem 22 and is internally sized and shaped to fit over the periphery of base 10. It is held in place by nut 30. At its rear cover 70 has a notch 72 whereby a cable 74 may be let into the housing.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that in an assembly a proximately 2% liiinch longby l% inch wide and 3/4 inch hig the present invention avoids the cumbersomeness and bulkiness of the prior conventional transfer switches, that it eliminates the complicated, difficult and skill-required operations of the past in both assembly and installation, and that highly useful and practical switch assembly in miniature is supplied.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention for illustrative purposes, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be employed in other forms. All such as will occur to those skilled in this art are intended to be covered by this patent, construing the same with a reasonably appropriate application of the doctrine of equivalents.

What is claimed is:

l. A transfer switch package assembly, comprising:

a dielectric base block having a manually operable switch unit mounted at one end on its upper surface and at least a pair of binding posts remote from said' switch unit mounted upon the same surface of said base block and extending downward therethrough;

said base block having an upright slot aperture disposed transversely therethrough and located between said switch unit and said binding posts;

said switch unit having connector prongs directed toward said slot;

a flexible interconnection mounting panel having at least a pair of conductive connecting paths disposed on a predetermined surface of said panel board, said paths terminating at both ends in flat, solderable lands;

said panel having the lands at one en of said paths disposed against the lower ends of said binding posts and its other end flexed and passed upwardly through said slot to dispose matched lands thereon proximal to prongs of said switch unit; and

solder bonding means joining (a) said binding posts to the related lands at one end of said panel and (b) said proximate prongs to the matched lands at the other end of said panel.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 in which the base block is provided with a notched wall an said switch unit is disposed and clamped in the wall notch.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 in which there are at least three pairs of binding posts mounted upon said base block and said switch unit is a double-pole, double-throw device having a matching number of said prongs thereon.

4. The assembly according to claim I in which there is a cavity in said base block beneath said binding posts to receive said panel and said slot communicate forwardly with said panel.

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Claims (4)

1. A transfer switch package assembly, comprising: a dielectric base block having a manually operable switch unit mounted at one end on its upper surface and at least a pair of binding posts remote from said switch unit mounted upon the same surface of said base block and extending downward therethrough; said base block having an upright slot aperture disposed transversely therethrough and located between said switch unit and said binding posts; said switch unit having connector prongs directed toward said slot; a flexible interconnection mounting panel having at least a pair of conductive connecting paths disposed on a predetermined surface of said panel board, said paths terminating at both ends in flat, solderable lands; said panel having the lands at one en of said paths disposed against the lower ends of said binding posts and its other end flexed and passed upwardly through said slot to dispose matched lands thereon proximal to prongs of said switch unit; and solder bonding means joining (a) said binding posts to the related lands at one end of said panel and (b) said proximate prongs to the matched lands at the other end of said panel.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 in which the base block is provided with a notched wall an said switch unit is disposed and clamped in the wall notch.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 in which there are at least three pairs of binding posts mounted upon said base block and said switch unit is a double-pole, double-throw device having a matching number of said prongs thereon.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 in which there is a cavity in said base block beneath said binding posts to receive said panel and said slot communicate forwardly with said panel.

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