US3689714A - Reversible contact bridge arrangement for electrical switches - Google Patents

Reversible contact bridge arrangement for electrical switches Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3689714A
US3689714A US97596A US9759670A US3689714A US 3689714 A US3689714 A US 3689714A US 97596 A US97596 A US 97596A US 9759670 A US9759670 A US 9759670A US 3689714 A US3689714 A US 3689714A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
switching arm
bridge
contacts
leg
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
US97596A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Manfred Walz
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.)
EBE ELEKTRO RAU ELEMENTE GmbH
Original Assignee
EBE ELEKTRO RAU ELEMENTE 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
Application filed by EBE ELEKTRO RAU ELEMENTE GmbH filed Critical EBE ELEKTRO RAU ELEMENTE GmbH
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3689714A publication Critical patent/US3689714A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • H01H1/36—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
    • H01H19/54—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions
    • H01H19/56—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch
    • H01H19/58—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch having only axial contact pressure, e.g. disc switch, wafer switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
    • H01H11/0006—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches for converting electric switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
    • H01H19/02—Details
    • H01H19/10—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H19/12—Contact arrangements for providing make-before-break operation, e.g. for on-load tap-changing

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data
  • the [58] Field A 16 D B6 166 contact bridge has a set of bridging contacts on one 200/; 66 J side, with a set of break contacts being located on the opposite side whereby the contact bridge is readily reversible on the switching arm without dismantling [56], References cued the switch so that at choice either the bridging con- UNITED STATES PATENTS tacts or the break contacts will be in position to collaborate with and operatively engage the contact 2,706,760 4/1955 Mucher ..200/166 J X paths 2,549,998 4/1951 Allison ..200/11 A 15 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures T N 27 L REVERSIBLE CONTACT BRIDGE ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES SCOPE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a contact bridge arrangement of the type hereinafter described in which the contact bridge may be reversed in a simple manner without having to dismantle the switch. Furthermore, the contact bridge arrangement according to the invention may be economically
  • the contact bridge according to the invention is reversed, in the case of a rotary stepping switch, about an axis which extends perpendicularly to the axis of the switch. This makes it possible to reverse the contact bridge easily from the position for breaking switching into the position for bridging switching or vice versa.
  • the contact bridge is adapted to be pulled off the switching arm in the direction of the reversing axis and may be refitted after rotation through 180 about this axis. In this manner, the contact bridge may be removed simply from its operating position facilitating not only its reversal but also its replacement by another contact bridge.
  • the contact bridge is a U-shaped spring element, the legs of which carry the contacts.
  • the legs of the spring are adapted to fit into recesses provided on both sides of the switching arm. In this manner, a correct guide is provided for the displacement of the contact bridge.
  • the web or base of the U-shaped spring element is preferably fitted into a recess provided in the edge of the switching arm so that there are no radially projecting parts of the contact bridge in the case of a rotary stepping switch.
  • the firm mounting of the contact bridge on the switching arm is ensured in that the ends of the legs of the spring element have inwardly projecting retaining beads which engage into corresponding recesses of the switching arm.
  • the switching arm may be provided on the side receiving the spring element with chamfers for the two ends of the legs.
  • the fitting of the contact bridge may be further facilitated by recesses provided on both sides of the switching arm on the side facing the spring element.
  • the contacts are punched out of the spring sheet element.
  • the contact bridge arrangement according to the invention may be used particularly efficiently by providing two facing, contact paths, parallel to both sides of the switching arm and consisting at least partially of individual contacts.
  • This embodiment utilizes in an advantageous manner the fact that contacts are located on both sides of the switching arm of which in the basic construction always only one pair of contacts is in operation at any given time.
  • the contact bridge arrangement according to the invention When the contact bridge arrangement according to the invention is used in a stepping switch with one continuous contact path and one contact path consisting of individual contacts, preferably two identical contacts are formed on both sides of the switching arm above the continuous contact path. On the other side of the switching arm, one bridging or break contact is preferably formed above the contact path consisting of individual contacts.
  • the two contacts associated with each contact path are diagonally offset relative to each other.
  • the elastic arms of each contact may extend substantially over the radial length of the contact bridge, thereby achieving a favorable spring effect.
  • the contacts are mounted resiliently on the bridge to produce a contact force. It is, however, also possible to provide the contacts firmly on the bridge and to provide a spring bias for the switching arm perpendicularly to the plane of the contacts to produce this contact force.
  • the construction may be such that only on one side of the contact bridge there are provided contacts connecting the contacts of the associated contact paths.
  • this construction no longer permits the reversal of the bridge, it enables a very simple exchange of the contact bridge to be effected.
  • different contact bridges are available for one and the same switch and these may be fitted as required to the contact bridge carrier, referred to as the switching arm.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention, perpendicularly to the plane of the contact path and to the direction of movement of the switching arm;
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an end elevation viewed from the line III- III in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-section along the line IVIV in FIG. 1.
  • the drawing shows a contact bridge arrangement according to the invention in its preferred application in conjunction with a rotary stepping switch.
  • the rotary switch has a circular contact plate 28 on which a switching arm 14 is rotatably mounted by means of a circular support disk 29 and screws 27.
  • the axis of rotation is shown at 30 in FIGS. 2 and 4.
  • the contact plate 28 there are two concentric contact paths 11, 12, of which the outer path 11 consists of individual contacts 13 while the inner contact path 12 is formed by a continuous metal strip.
  • the inner contact path it is also possible for the inner contact path to consist of individual contacts or segments.
  • the switching arm 14 has a contact bridge which is provided on opposite sides of the switching arm 14 with bridging contacts 15 and break contacts 16, respectively. These contacts are located on the radius of the contact path 11.
  • the contact bridge 17 has further contacts 19, 20 on opposite sides on the radius of the contact path 12.
  • the contact bridge is formed by a U-shaped spring plate which is adapted to be fitted to the switching arm 14 so that the web of the U extends parallel to the axis of rotation and the legs parallel to the radius of the rotary switch.
  • the contact bridge 17 may be detached from the switching arm 14 in the radial direction and fitted thereon in the same sense.
  • the contact bridge 17 is symmetrical so that it can be fitted on to the switching arm 14 after rotation about its axis 18 through 180.
  • the contacts l5, 16, 19, 20 are embossed by punching from the material of the spring plate.
  • the arms of the individual contacts may be so long that they act after the manner of springs, thereby eliminating the necessity for providing special contact springs.
  • the switching arm 14 has on both sides recesses 21 and on the outside a recess 22 and the contact bridge 17 is constructed to fit into these recesses. Furthermore, the legs of the spring plate 17 acting as contact bridge have at their ends retaining beads 23 which engage resiliently into corresponding retaining recesses 24 provided in the switching arm 14.
  • Chamfers 25 are provided on the outside of the switching arm in the region of the contact bridge and enable the legs of the contact bridge to be resiliently fitted.
  • recesses 26 are provided on both sides of the switching arm 14, adapted to receive the contact bridge 17. This provides a positive guide for the contact bridge while the legs slide along the chamfers 25. This construction substantially facilitates the reversing and exchange of the contact bridge.
  • a particularly preferred embodiment comprises a contact plate with two contact paths on the side of the switching arm 14 remote from the contact plate 28, wherein the contact paths of the second contact plate extend parallel to the contact paths 11, 12.
  • the contacts l6, 19 could be used. Should this be desired, the contacts 15, 20 and 16, 19, respectively, provided on both sides of the switching arm, could be insulated against each other.
  • the switching arm may also be constructed as a rotor. It is only essential that it carries the contact bridge and permits its movement along the contact paths.
  • a rotary electric switch comprising a rotatably mounted switching arm of insulating material, a contact plate of insulating material disposed parallel to the switching arm and mountably supporting at least two concentrically disposed electrical contact paths thereon, at least one of the contact paths consisting at least partly of individual spaced stationary contacts, a contact bridge arrangement detachably mounted on the switching arm for rotary movement therewith, the contact bridge having contacts thereon adapted to slideably engage and cooperate with the contact paths to connect the individual contacts of the contact paths in a selected predetermined manner, the contact bridge contacts including a set of bridging contacts and a set of break contacts with respect to the contact paths, the bridging contacts being disposed on one side of the switching arm with the break contacts being disposed on the opposite side of the switching arm, the contact bridge arrangement adapted for removal from the switching arm and reversed through an angle of about an axis extending in the radial direction so as to select the side of the contact bridge and associated bridging or break contacts to be brought into operative sliding engagement with the contact paths.
  • the contact bridge arrangement is a resilient U-shaped spring plate having substantially parallel leg portions and an interconnecting web portion, the plate being detachably supported on the switching arm by the clamping action of the resilient leg portions on the switching arm, the plate adapted to be detached from the switching arm in the radial direction, rotated 180 about the longitudinal axis of the plate, and again mounted on the switching arm whereby a new set of contacts are now disposed for slideably engaging the contact paths.
  • the contact bridge arrangement includes an identical contact positioned on each side of the switching arm directly above the continuous contact path, and a bridging contact on one side of the switching arm and a break contact on the other side of the switching arm, respectively, directly above the contact path of individually spaced contacts.
  • a rotary electric switch comprising:
  • a rotatable switching arm of insulating material disposed parallel to the mounting plate and spaced therefrom, the switch arm rotatable relative to the contact mounting plate about an axis generally perpendicular to the mounting plate, the switching arm having a top side surface and a bottom side surface with the bottom surface being in spaced juxtaposition with said mounting plate;
  • a Ushaped contact bridge arrangement detachably mounted on said switching arm for rotation therewith, said contact bridge including two legs interconnected at one end by a web portion, one leg of said bridge being received on the top surface of the switching arm with the other leg of said bridge being received on the bottom surface of said switching arm, said contact bridge being removable from said switching arm, rotated 180 about its longitudinal axis, and mounted in this reversed position on said switching arm so that said one bridge leg would then be received on said bottom surface of said switching arm with said other bridge leg then being received on said top surface of said switching arm thereby permitting the selective choosing of the particular bridge leg to be received by said bottom surface of said switching arm for juxtapositioning with said contact paths;
  • said one bridge leg having electrically connected first and second contacts formed thereon arranged for sliding engagement with said first and second contact paths respectively when said one bridge leg is placed in juxtaposition thereto on said switching arm, said first contact being smaller in size than the spacing between adjacent said first individually spaced stationary contacts on said mounting plate so that no bridging occurs between adjacent stationary contacts when said one bridge leg first contact is moved therebetween;
  • said other bridge leg having electrically connected third and fourth contacts thereon arranged for sliding engagement with said first and second contact paths respectively when said other bridge leg is positioned on said switching arm in juxtaposition with said contact paths on said mounting plate, said other bridge leg third contact being larger in size than the spacing between adjacent said first individually spaced stationary contacts on said mounting plate so that bridging occurs between adjacent individually spaced stationary contacts when said third contact is slideably moved therebetween;
  • said contact bridge being selectively disposed on said switching arm with said one leg in juxtaposition with said mounting plate so as to bring by choice individual of said first individually spaced stationary contacts into electrical connection with said second contact path by said first and second contacts when said one bridge leg is positioned on said switching arm in juxtaposition with said mounting plate, and by reversing said contact bridge on said switching arm so that said other leg is in juxtaposition with said mounting plate, to bridge by choice adjacent said first individually spaced contacts on said mounting plate thereby electrically interconnecting such adjacent contacts by the bridging of said third contact on said other bridge leg and placing the bridged adjacent contacts in electrical connection with said second contact path by said fourth contact.

Landscapes

  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)
US97596A 1969-12-23 1970-12-14 Reversible contact bridge arrangement for electrical switches Expired - Lifetime US3689714A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19691964580 DE1964580C2 (de) 1969-12-23 1969-12-23 Kontacktbrueckenanordnung

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3689714A true US3689714A (en) 1972-09-05

Family

ID=5754829

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US97596A Expired - Lifetime US3689714A (en) 1969-12-23 1970-12-14 Reversible contact bridge arrangement for electrical switches

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3689714A (de)
DE (1) DE1964580C2 (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4096365A (en) * 1975-01-15 1978-06-20 Wessex Advanced Switching Products Limited Rotary wafer switch
US4401862A (en) * 1981-05-29 1983-08-30 Bernard Valentin Electrical switch with sliding contacts
US4572931A (en) * 1982-09-21 1986-02-25 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Rotary switch
US4609793A (en) * 1983-12-13 1986-09-02 Itt Industries, Inc. Electrical slide switching device
US5796058A (en) * 1995-06-06 1998-08-18 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Lever operated slide switch
US5969307A (en) * 1997-06-20 1999-10-19 Valeo Electronics Electrical switches for mounting in control panels, especially for heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning systems for motor vehicles
FR2863768A1 (fr) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-17 Tda Armements Sas Commutateur a faible effort de manoeuvre

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2938372B1 (fr) * 2008-11-13 2011-10-14 Schneider Toshiba Inverter Dispositif de commutation installe dans un variateur de vitesse

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1815577A (en) * 1928-08-01 1931-07-21 Joseph F Nenzel Switch
US2549998A (en) * 1945-12-06 1951-04-24 Grigsby Allison Co Inc Electric switch construction
US2706760A (en) * 1951-11-09 1955-04-19 Clarostat Mfg Co Inc Variable electric control
US2988606A (en) * 1957-12-19 1961-06-13 Cts Corp Electric switch and method of making
US3061692A (en) * 1956-10-04 1962-10-30 Ncr Co Multiple-point switches
US3352979A (en) * 1966-09-30 1967-11-14 Rcl Electronics Inc Switch contact assembly
US3502824A (en) * 1967-05-24 1970-03-24 Rca Corp Slide selector contact switch with orthogonal u-shaped spring detent

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1815577A (en) * 1928-08-01 1931-07-21 Joseph F Nenzel Switch
US2549998A (en) * 1945-12-06 1951-04-24 Grigsby Allison Co Inc Electric switch construction
US2706760A (en) * 1951-11-09 1955-04-19 Clarostat Mfg Co Inc Variable electric control
US3061692A (en) * 1956-10-04 1962-10-30 Ncr Co Multiple-point switches
US2988606A (en) * 1957-12-19 1961-06-13 Cts Corp Electric switch and method of making
US3352979A (en) * 1966-09-30 1967-11-14 Rcl Electronics Inc Switch contact assembly
US3502824A (en) * 1967-05-24 1970-03-24 Rca Corp Slide selector contact switch with orthogonal u-shaped spring detent

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4096365A (en) * 1975-01-15 1978-06-20 Wessex Advanced Switching Products Limited Rotary wafer switch
US4401862A (en) * 1981-05-29 1983-08-30 Bernard Valentin Electrical switch with sliding contacts
US4572931A (en) * 1982-09-21 1986-02-25 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Rotary switch
US4609793A (en) * 1983-12-13 1986-09-02 Itt Industries, Inc. Electrical slide switching device
US5796058A (en) * 1995-06-06 1998-08-18 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Lever operated slide switch
US5969307A (en) * 1997-06-20 1999-10-19 Valeo Electronics Electrical switches for mounting in control panels, especially for heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning systems for motor vehicles
FR2863768A1 (fr) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-17 Tda Armements Sas Commutateur a faible effort de manoeuvre

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1964580C2 (de) 1971-11-04
DE1964580B1 (de) 1971-04-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2186949A (en) Electric switch
US3689714A (en) Reversible contact bridge arrangement for electrical switches
US4224489A (en) Snap action switch
US2877317A (en) Switching mechanism for timer
US3053956A (en) Rotary electric switches
US2755347A (en) Electric switch construction
US2971066A (en) Electrical switch with removable units
US3525827A (en) Printed circuit rotary switch
US2520709A (en) Control switch
US2900461A (en) Electrical switching units
US3198893A (en) Switch having an arc preventing cam arrangement
US3858021A (en) Electrical switching device having self-cleaning contactor elements
US3192328A (en) Movable switch contact assembly with self-aligning bridging plate members
US3060291A (en) Switching assembly
US2452916A (en) Rotary tap switch
US2644063A (en) Switch wafer mounting clip
US2384652A (en) Rotary electric switch
US2255501A (en) Electric switch
US4117429A (en) Electromagnetic switching apparatus
US2956131A (en) Electrical switch assembly
US3284583A (en) Permutation switch with multiple contact rods and arresting device
US2128373A (en) Circuit controlling device
US2440578A (en) Rotary switch contact assembly
US2590658A (en) Rotary electric switch
US1975247A (en) Electric switch