US3691490A - Magnetic switch apparatus - Google Patents

Magnetic switch apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3691490A
US3691490A US153369A US3691490DA US3691490A US 3691490 A US3691490 A US 3691490A US 153369 A US153369 A US 153369A US 3691490D A US3691490D A US 3691490DA US 3691490 A US3691490 A US 3691490A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
cavity
contact plate
movable contact
contact members
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
US153369A
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English (en)
Inventor
Luigi Ragni
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.)
Oxford Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Oxford Electric Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oxford Electric Corp filed Critical Oxford Electric Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3691490A publication Critical patent/US3691490A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
    • H01H36/0073—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding actuated by relative movement between two magnets

Definitions

  • Luigi Ragni HIS AT TORNE Y5 MAGNETIC SWITCH APPARATUS This invention relates to switch apparatus and more particularly to a magnetically actuated sealed switch for opening and closing an electric circuit.
  • the novel magnetic switch of my invention has a sealed housing which eliminates dust, moisture and corrosion.
  • the sealed housing is made of electrical insulating material, and, hence, my switch may be readily inserted into an appropriately sized opening in either the door or the door frame of the device in which the switch is incorporated without electrical insulation.
  • a movable contact plate is located in a cavity formed within the housing to connect fixed contact members which are adapted for connection into an electric circuit. The contact plate is moved relative to the fixed contact members by a stationary magnet sealed within the body and an exterior magnetic means. It is readily apparent that my novel magnetic switch has a number of advantages over mechanical switches. Since my switch is a sealed unit of electrically insulating material, it is not subject to corrosion, or interference by dirt and moisture, and may be quickly installed.
  • FIG. 1 is a section through theswitch in the closed circuit position
  • FIG. 2 is a section through the switch in the open circuit position and including an exterior magnetic means
  • FIG. 3 is a section on line Ill-III of FIG. 2.
  • the switch comprises a sealed body 1 made of a plastic or other rigid electrical insulating material and having a U-shaped cavity formed therein.
  • a portion of fixed electric contact members 2 and a movable contact plate 4 are located within the cavity.
  • Fixed contact members 2 are threadedly engaged with body 1 and have slotted ends so that they can be easily adjusted relative to the body.
  • the outer ends of fixed contact members 2 are shown connected to wires 3 which form a part of a circuit including a lamp (not shown).
  • Movable contact plate 4 is dimensioned to physically connect the ends of fixed contact members 2 to complete the circuit.
  • a rectangular cavity 6 is also formed within body 1 and is located between fixed contact members 2.
  • a stationary permanent magnetic member 5 is located within cavity 6 and is physically separated from fixed contact members 2 and from movable contact member 4 by a wall 7 which is a part of body 1.
  • Plat 4' is moved to connect fixed contact members 2 by the magnetic attraction of the stationary magnetic member.
  • Magnetic member 5 has sufficient magnetic force to draw contact plate 4 toward it and to hold the plate firmly against the ends of contact members 2 to complete the circuit even though wall 7 separates magnetic member 5 from the movable plate.
  • each end of movable contact plate 4 is formed with a slot 8, and spheres 9 are mounted in recesses in the end walls of body 1 so as to extend into the cavity.
  • the slots are centered in the movable contact plate, and the spheres are positioned centrally of the end walls.
  • the spheres cooperate with slots 8 and maintain the movable contact plate in alignment during movement. While spheres are shown in FIG. 3, it should be understood that guide members having other shapes may be used in conjunction with slots in the movable contact plate. Regardless of the exact shape of the guide members and the slots, it is important that the movable contact plate is maintained in proper alignment to prevent binding during movement.
  • the detents shown at the ends of body 1 are used to hold the switch in position in a properly sized opening in either the door or the door frame of the device with which it is used. After wires 3 are connected to contacts 2 and the contacts are adjusted to properly position their ends within the cavity, the switch assembly is snapped into the opening.
  • the detents are resilient and move toward each other as the switch is pushed into the opening. When the enlarged shoulders of the detents pass through the opening, they snap away from each other, and the ends engage the rear surface of the door or door frame. The forward surface of the door or the door frame is engaged by the upper and lower extensions at the ends of body 1.
  • the magnetic switch of my invention may be readily inserted into either the door or the door frame of such appliances as refrigerators, freezers and automobiles. It is necessary that the door or door frame which is to attract the movable contact plate have a magnetic sealing gasket or a magnetic insert positioned opposite to the switch.
  • the member 10 in FIG. 2 is a portion of a magnetic gasket which will be attached to a door (not shown) to maintain it in the closed position, and when the door is closed, this gasket pulls the movable contact plate away from fixed contact members 2 against the force of stationary magnetic member 5.
  • the combination of my magnetic switch and the actuating magnet on the door or door frame of the device may form a magnetic latch to maintain the door in the closed position. In this instance, the switch performs the dual function of opening and closing a circuit to actuate an interior lamp and of maintaining the door in its closed position.
  • My invention has important features including a sealed unit which can be easily snapped into place after the wires are connected and, hence, is not rendered inoperatively by dirt, moisture or corrosion. Additionally, the switch is inexpensive since housing 1 is made from plastic or other electrical insulating material and no mechanical members are included in the switch.
  • the switch may be modified so that the switch completes the circuit when the door is closed and opens the circuit when the door is opened. This type of switch requires positioning the fixed contacts between the movable magnetic member and the wall of body 1 adjacent to the door.
  • An electric switch of the type in which the electric circuit is normally open between spaced contact members having a sealed body formed of electrical insulating material, said body having a first cavity formed therein, contact members extending through said body with one end located within said first cavity and the other end located exteriorly of said body to receive wires of an electric circuit, a movable contact plate located within said first cavity dimensioned to contact and electrically connect the ends of said fixed contact members located within said first cavity and adapted to move toward and away from said fixed contact members to open and close the electric circuit, and stationary permanent magnetic means located within said body between said fixed contact members and spaced from said contact plate, whereby said stationary permanent magnetic means magnetically attracts said movable contact plate to connect said fixed contact members to close the electric circuit.
  • a switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein a portion of the length of each contact member is threaded to threadably engage said body, whereby said fixed contact members are adjustable relative to said body.
  • a switch as set forth in claim 1 including first guide means on said movable contact plate and second guide means carried by said body within said first cavity and aligned with said first guide means, said first guide means cooperating with said second guide means to retain said movable contact plate in alignment during movement.
  • a switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein a second cavity is formed within said body and said stationary permanent magnetic means is located in said second cavity and is separated from said movable contact plate by a wall integral with said body so that said movable contact plate cannot physically contact said stationary permanent magnetic means.
  • a switch as set forth in claim 1 including resilient detent members integral with the exterior surfaces of the end walls of said body, said detent members adapted to permit insertion of the switch into an opening formed in a structural member and to hold the switch in place in said member.
  • a device having a frame and a closure member with magnetic means carried thereon, the improvement comprising an electric switch in which the circuit is normally open mounted in the frame in a location adjacent to the magnetic means on the closure member when the closure member is closed, said switch having a sealed body formed of electrical insulating material and carrying fixed contact members supported by said body, one end of each contact member located out of said body to receive electrical wires of the electric circuit and the other located within said body, a movable contact plate located within said body and adapted to contact and electrically connect the ends of said contact members located within said body, a stationary permanent magnet located within said body and adapted to attract said movable contact plate when said closure member is opened so that said movable plate contacts the ends of said contact members to complete the electric circuit including said contact members.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
US153369A 1970-11-09 1971-06-15 Magnetic switch apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3691490A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT523570 1970-11-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3691490A true US3691490A (en) 1972-09-12

Family

ID=11119742

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US153369A Expired - Lifetime US3691490A (en) 1970-11-09 1971-06-15 Magnetic switch apparatus

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3691490A (fa)
AT (1) AT311476B (fa)
CA (1) CA941870A (fa)
DE (1) DE2135878A1 (fa)
FR (1) FR2112907A5 (fa)
GB (1) GB1332582A (fa)
IL (1) IL37505A0 (fa)
NL (1) NL7112152A (fa)
NO (1) NO131742C (fa)
SE (1) SE364140B (fa)
ZA (1) ZA715301B (fa)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3842377A (en) * 1973-07-05 1974-10-15 Martin C Magnetic switch
US3924631A (en) * 1973-12-06 1975-12-09 Altair Inc Magnetic clamp
US4021855A (en) * 1974-07-17 1977-05-03 U.S. Philips Corporation Cassette detection device for recording and/or playback apparatus
US4075588A (en) * 1973-11-09 1978-02-21 Alarm Device Manufacturing, Co. Switching apparatus
USD255030S (en) 1978-10-23 1980-05-20 Sentrol, Inc. Housing for a magnetic contact switch
US4219773A (en) * 1978-11-02 1980-08-26 Uop Inc. Well casing finder instrument with movable magnet and magnetically operated switch
US4513271A (en) * 1982-07-16 1985-04-23 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Momentary contact magnetic switch
US5048335A (en) * 1987-10-01 1991-09-17 Bindicator Company Capacitance-type material level indicator
US20090091408A1 (en) * 2007-10-03 2009-04-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho And Nec Tokin Corporation Switch Device
CN103971990A (zh) * 2013-01-31 2014-08-06 宁波斯卡达汽车电器有限公司 一种汽车磁力开关用动触盘
CN109786176A (zh) * 2019-03-03 2019-05-21 嘉兴新博信息科技有限公司 一种具有漏电警报的防水型磁控开关

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102017130837A1 (de) * 2017-12-21 2019-06-27 Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg System, Messeinrichtung und Verfahren zur Erkennung eines Schließzustands

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3040146A (en) * 1960-05-02 1962-06-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Permanent magnet actuator for electric devices
US3487346A (en) * 1967-04-24 1969-12-30 Lettam Inc Magnetic switch

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3040146A (en) * 1960-05-02 1962-06-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Permanent magnet actuator for electric devices
US3487346A (en) * 1967-04-24 1969-12-30 Lettam Inc Magnetic switch

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3842377A (en) * 1973-07-05 1974-10-15 Martin C Magnetic switch
US4075588A (en) * 1973-11-09 1978-02-21 Alarm Device Manufacturing, Co. Switching apparatus
US3924631A (en) * 1973-12-06 1975-12-09 Altair Inc Magnetic clamp
US4021855A (en) * 1974-07-17 1977-05-03 U.S. Philips Corporation Cassette detection device for recording and/or playback apparatus
USD255030S (en) 1978-10-23 1980-05-20 Sentrol, Inc. Housing for a magnetic contact switch
US4219773A (en) * 1978-11-02 1980-08-26 Uop Inc. Well casing finder instrument with movable magnet and magnetically operated switch
US4513271A (en) * 1982-07-16 1985-04-23 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Momentary contact magnetic switch
US5048335A (en) * 1987-10-01 1991-09-17 Bindicator Company Capacitance-type material level indicator
US20090091408A1 (en) * 2007-10-03 2009-04-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho And Nec Tokin Corporation Switch Device
EP2045824A3 (en) * 2007-10-03 2010-09-22 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho Switch device
US7932796B2 (en) 2007-10-03 2011-04-26 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switch device
CN103971990A (zh) * 2013-01-31 2014-08-06 宁波斯卡达汽车电器有限公司 一种汽车磁力开关用动触盘
CN109786176A (zh) * 2019-03-03 2019-05-21 嘉兴新博信息科技有限公司 一种具有漏电警报的防水型磁控开关
CN109786176B (zh) * 2019-03-03 2020-06-05 金华九禾磁电科技有限公司 一种具有漏电警报的防水型磁控开关

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA715301B (en) 1972-08-30
SE364140B (fa) 1974-02-11
NL7112152A (fa) 1972-05-12
CA941870A (en) 1974-02-12
GB1332582A (en) 1973-10-03
FR2112907A5 (fa) 1972-06-23
IL37505A0 (en) 1971-11-29
AT311476B (de) 1973-11-26
NO131742C (fa) 1975-07-16
DE2135878A1 (de) 1972-05-10
NO131742B (fa) 1975-04-07

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