US3873078A - Mechanical bistable device - Google Patents

Mechanical bistable device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3873078A
US3873078A US368187A US36818773A US3873078A US 3873078 A US3873078 A US 3873078A US 368187 A US368187 A US 368187A US 36818773 A US36818773 A US 36818773A US 3873078 A US3873078 A US 3873078A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
spring
housing
recess
movement
housing recess
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
US368187A
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English (en)
Inventor
Heribert Wolf
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.)
Alcatel Lucent NV
Original Assignee
International Standard Electric Corp
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
Priority claimed from DE19722230028 external-priority patent/DE2230028C3/de
Application filed by International Standard Electric Corp filed Critical International Standard Electric Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3873078A publication Critical patent/US3873078A/en
Assigned to ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP OF THE NETHERLANDS reassignment ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP OF THE NETHERLANDS ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORP OF DE
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/26—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members
    • H01H13/36—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members using flexing of blade springs
    • H01H13/38—Single blade moved across dead-centre position

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A snap acting, bistable, pushbutton operator or the like for actuating any apparatus requiring a mechanical movement including, but not limited to, an electrical switch.
  • a spring is used to bias the pushbutton. The same said spring also produces the actuating movement.
  • the spring also provides the snap action, and establishes the bistable character of the operator.
  • the spring can also be conductive and can act, for example, .as the pole of a single-pole, double-throw switch.
  • the spring itself may be simply a rectangular strip, i.e., a spring metal leaf or otherwise.
  • This invention relates to mechanical operators for any apparatus requiring a mechanical actuating movement, and more particularly, to a snap acting, bistable actuator.
  • the present invention may or may not have any one or more or all of the following features, as desired.
  • a spring may be employed to bias a pushbutton or actuating member.
  • the selfsame spring can also establish the bistable character of the device of the present invention.
  • the selfsame spring can be conductive and can act
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a partially disassembled snap acting device constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the snap acting device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a single-pole, double-throwswitch constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 6to 11, inclusive are positional views illustrating how the parts of the snap acting device of the present invention move during operation thereof.
  • a snap acting device including a body 10', a pushbutton 70, a slide 50 and a flat spring 60.
  • the pushbutton 70 is guided for movement relative to body 10' by being fixed relative to the upper end of slide 50.
  • Slide 50 is slidably guided in aguide groove of the body 10'.
  • Two limit stops 5a and 5b in the positions thereof shown in FIG. 1, engage shoulders 10a and 10b of the guide groove 100 to limit upward movement of slide 50 and pushbutton 70, as viewed in FIG. 1.
  • the body 10 with its heart-shaped recess is covered by the plate 110.
  • an-L-shaped member may be employed, if desired, and may, if desired, be slidably mounted in a slot identical to slot 90 of FIG. 2. With the aid of member 120, a photoelectric switch may be actuated, if desired.
  • FIG. 4 An embodiment is shown in which a flat spring60" carries a contact 130. Contacts are also provided at Ma and 14b. In this embodiment care preferably is taken to make contact sufficiently large so that the contact 130 will remain in engagement with one of the fixed contacts until the spring 60"rapidly snaps to a position similar to that shown in FIG. 6. It has proved advantageous to provide for a frictional engagement between contacts. Among other advantages therof, self-cleaning of the contacts is effected. Improved positive contact engagement can be achieved by constructing the body in a mannersuch that the lower end of spring 60" is fixed relative to the body and fixed in a slot 40' in the body.
  • FIG. 5 shows a further example for using the snap acting mechanism in connection with a rotary switch.
  • a spring 60 is firmly connected to a rotatably support bolt or shaft l50.
  • a conductive disc 160 To this bolt there may be mounted, for example, a conductive disc 160.
  • the spring in its normal position preferably is bent to such an extent that it engages sidewalls similar to sidewalls 20 and 30 shown in FIG. 1. In this way, it is possible to prevent bolt from twisting prior to the actual snap over.
  • a spring 60"" is slightly curved and engages a projection 2a of a limiting stop wall 20'.
  • the spring 60"" approximately and more nearly conforms to the shape of the limiting stop wall 20' as shown'in FIG. 7.
  • the upperpart of the spring 60"",as shown in FIG. 7, has a curvature which is the reverse of its curvature that is shown in FIG. 6. Further depression of the pushbutton causes the curvature'of spring 60"" to change from that shown in FIG. 7 to that shown FIG. 8, i.e. to a more or less figure-S shape.
  • FIG. 10 shows the condition of the spring after the snap over. If, in this condition of the spring, the pushbutton is depressed further, the spring 60"" will bear against one of two limiting stop walls 20 and 30' without being permitted to snap back over again in the reverse direction. Upon releasing the pushbutton, the spring 60"" is permitted to relax, and will 3 thereafter remain in one of the postitions illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 11.
  • the spacing between 80 and in FIG. 1 preferably is about 30 millimeters.
  • the spacing between the two limit stops is about 6 millimeters.
  • the largest spacing between the two opposite points of the heart-shaped curve is preferably 10 millimeters.
  • the spacing between the two limit stops the same as or similar to limit stops 14a and 14b in FIG. 4 at the rim portion of the opening of the heart-shaped curve in relation to the same location or that similar to the location of 40' is preferably 18 millimeters.
  • a flat or leaf spring can be usefully employed in accordance with the present invention, and the use thereof may be extremely advantageous; however, a spring wire or even a helical or other spring may be used for this purpose and some or all of the time results may be obtained which are as good as or better than results which are obtained by using a flat or leaf spring.
  • the springs are limited or guided in their movements so that they can move in one plane only.
  • the use of the limit stops can also be important.
  • snap acting devices of the kind described hereinbefore may be integrated to form one building block.
  • four snap acting devices with four discs or L- shaped members may be combined to form one structural unit.
  • a snap acting operator comprising: a housing having a recess therein; a movable member; motion direction means to'guide movement of said member, said member having a recess therein, said member recess extending toward and reaching a first apex pointing in a first predetermined direction, said housing recess extending toward and reaching a second apex pointing in a second predetermined direction opposite said first predetermined direction, said housing recess having a projection fixed relative thereto on each of two opposite sides of said housing recess in positions extending into said housing recess, said housing recess having sides receding in opposite directions away from said projections, respectively, on the side thereof opposite the side thereof on which said member is located; and a spring in said recesses having first and second opposite ends thereof adapted to fit into said first and second apexes, respectively, said spring being movable from a position in engagement with either one of said projections to a position in engagement with the other by movement of said member toward said housing, said housing, said
  • said surface portions lying in mathematical surfaces described by moving a first line segment in a direction normal thereto while located between said first and second main flat surfaces normal thereto and having first and second ends located in the respective first and second main flat surfaces, said housing recess and said member recess being symmetrical about a plane normal to said first and second main flat surfaces midway between said projections and passing through said apexes, two of said surface portions being first and second auxiliary flat surfaces which intersect substantially in a second line segment normal to said first and second main flat surfaces, which second line segment is effectively said second apex, said member having third and fourth main flat surfaces approximately in the planes of said respective first and second main flat surfaces, and partially defining said member recess, said member having third and fourth auxiliary flat surfaces normal to and extending between said third and fourth main flat surfaces, said third and fourth auxiliary flat surfaces intersecting substantially in a third line segment normal to said third and fourth main flat surfaces, which third line segment is effectively said first apex, said member and housing having flat facing sides with respective facing openings into the
  • said slot being symmetrical about a plane through said apexes and having a rectangular cross section uniform throughout a portion of its length thereinto from said opening thereinto, a straight rigid slide having a rectangular cross section uniform throughout its length fixed relative to said member and slidable in said slot, stop means fixed relative to said housing and engageable by said slide to limit movement of said slide in a direction out of said slot, said spring being column loaded between said housing and member apexes when said slide engages said stop means in a manner such that said spring takes a deflection so that it successively and substantially forms each one of both oppositely disposed arcs, said spring being movable to a first position engageable with one of said projections, movement of said spring from engagement with said one projection to a second position for engagement with the other being caused by a movement of said member toward housing, subsequent movement of said member to a position where said slide lies in engagement with said stop means making it possible to move said spring from said second position thereof to said first position thereof by again moving said member toward said housing, the
  • a snap acting operator comprising: a housing having a recess therein: a movable member; motion direction means to guide movement of said member, said member having a recess therein, said member recess extending toward and reaching a first apex pointing in a first predetermined direction, said housing recess extending toward and reaching a second apex pointing in a second predetermined direction opposite said first predetermined direction,said housing recess having a projection fixed relative thereto on each of two opposite sides of said housing recess in positions extending into said housing recess, said housing recess having sides receding in opposite directions away from said projections, respectively, on the side thereof opposite the side thereof on which said member is located; and a spring in said recesses having first and second opposite ends thereof adapted to fit into said first and second apexes, respectively, said spring being movable from a position
  • a snap acting operator comprising: a housing having a recess therein; a movable member; motion direction means to guide movement of said member, said member having a recess therein, said member recess extending toward and reaching a first apex pointing in a first predetermined direction, said housing recess extending toward and reaching a second apex pointing in a second predetermined direction opposite said first predetermined direction, said housing recess having a projection fixed relative thereto on each of two opposite sides of said housing recess in positions extending into said housing recess, said housing recess having sides receding in opposite directions away from said projections, respectively, on the side thereof opposite the side thereof on which said member is located; and a spring in said recesses having first and second opposite ends thereof adapted to fit into said first and second apexes, respectively, said spring being movable from a position in engagement with either one of said projections to a position in engagement with the other by movement of said member toward said housing, said housing ap

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
US368187A 1972-06-20 1973-06-08 Mechanical bistable device Expired - Lifetime US3873078A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19722230028 DE2230028C3 (de) 1972-06-20 Schnappvorrichtung

Publications (1)

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US3873078A true US3873078A (en) 1975-03-25

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US368187A Expired - Lifetime US3873078A (en) 1972-06-20 1973-06-08 Mechanical bistable device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3873078A (zh)
JP (1) JPS5330910B2 (zh)
ES (1) ES217493Y (zh)
GB (1) GB1440250A (zh)
IT (1) IT989162B (zh)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4190751A (en) * 1975-10-22 1980-02-26 Roth Jac M Electrical contact switch with an extremely small actuating movement
US4267725A (en) * 1979-05-22 1981-05-19 Roth Jac M Arrangement for registering loads
US4322700A (en) * 1979-12-21 1982-03-30 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Electrical relay apparatus
US4398070A (en) * 1980-12-24 1983-08-09 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Two-motion push-button switch
US20070041856A1 (en) * 2005-08-17 2007-02-22 Danfoss Compressors Gmbh Linear compressor
US20100038281A1 (en) * 2008-08-14 2010-02-18 Chih-Ming Lin Front Opening Unified Pod with latch component
US20130047523A1 (en) * 2011-08-23 2013-02-28 Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, Llc Passive structures with high stiffness and high damping properties
US9660229B2 (en) 2011-08-01 2017-05-23 Ingersoll-Rand Company Battery pack release with tactile feedback for cordless power tools
US9884416B2 (en) 2011-08-01 2018-02-06 Ingersoll-Rand Company Devices including power tools with non-binding linear slides and associated methods
US10546703B1 (en) 2018-02-20 2020-01-28 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Bi-stable compliant switch system

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4144428A (en) * 1976-12-16 1979-03-13 Veeder Industries Inc. Electrical switch with leaf spring switching element
CH617333A5 (zh) * 1977-06-27 1980-05-30 Reppisch Werke Ag
DE3132918C2 (de) * 1980-09-16 1985-11-28 Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokio/Tokyo Druckknopfschalter
JPS6293319U (zh) * 1985-11-27 1987-06-15
JPS6453707U (zh) * 1987-09-30 1989-04-03
JPH01147203U (zh) * 1988-03-28 1989-10-11
JPH01266205A (ja) * 1988-04-14 1989-10-24 Seiko Electronic Components Ltd クリーンルーム用防塵服
JPH0581208U (ja) * 1992-04-08 1993-11-05 藤倉航装株式会社 熱交換外衣

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1668974A (en) * 1926-03-12 1928-05-08 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Snap switch
US2658972A (en) * 1951-05-23 1953-11-10 Burroughs Adding Machine Co Mechanical bi-stable device
US2772086A (en) * 1954-05-03 1956-11-27 Majik Ironers Inc Controlled gradient compression leaf spring
US3582594A (en) * 1968-11-15 1971-06-01 Mechanical Enterprises Inc Actuator useable for electric switches and the like

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1668974A (en) * 1926-03-12 1928-05-08 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Snap switch
US2658972A (en) * 1951-05-23 1953-11-10 Burroughs Adding Machine Co Mechanical bi-stable device
US2772086A (en) * 1954-05-03 1956-11-27 Majik Ironers Inc Controlled gradient compression leaf spring
US3582594A (en) * 1968-11-15 1971-06-01 Mechanical Enterprises Inc Actuator useable for electric switches and the like

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4190751A (en) * 1975-10-22 1980-02-26 Roth Jac M Electrical contact switch with an extremely small actuating movement
US4267725A (en) * 1979-05-22 1981-05-19 Roth Jac M Arrangement for registering loads
US4322700A (en) * 1979-12-21 1982-03-30 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Electrical relay apparatus
US4398070A (en) * 1980-12-24 1983-08-09 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Two-motion push-button switch
US20070041856A1 (en) * 2005-08-17 2007-02-22 Danfoss Compressors Gmbh Linear compressor
US20100038281A1 (en) * 2008-08-14 2010-02-18 Chih-Ming Lin Front Opening Unified Pod with latch component
US9660229B2 (en) 2011-08-01 2017-05-23 Ingersoll-Rand Company Battery pack release with tactile feedback for cordless power tools
US9884416B2 (en) 2011-08-01 2018-02-06 Ingersoll-Rand Company Devices including power tools with non-binding linear slides and associated methods
US20130047523A1 (en) * 2011-08-23 2013-02-28 Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, Llc Passive structures with high stiffness and high damping properties
US9376807B2 (en) * 2011-08-23 2016-06-28 Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, Llc Passive structures with high stiffness and high damping properties
US10546703B1 (en) 2018-02-20 2020-01-28 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Bi-stable compliant switch system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4957379A (zh) 1974-06-04
DE2230028A1 (de) 1973-10-31
DE2230028B2 (de) 1975-08-21
GB1440250A (en) 1976-06-23
JPS5330910B2 (zh) 1978-08-30
ES217493Y (es) 1977-01-01
ES217493U (es) 1976-08-16
IT989162B (it) 1975-05-20

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORP OF DE;REEL/FRAME:004718/0023

Effective date: 19870311