US3873795A - Electrical switch with reciprocating cam - Google Patents

Electrical switch with reciprocating cam Download PDF

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Publication number
US3873795A
US3873795A US454431A US45443174A US3873795A US 3873795 A US3873795 A US 3873795A US 454431 A US454431 A US 454431A US 45443174 A US45443174 A US 45443174A US 3873795 A US3873795 A US 3873795A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
operating member
contact
switch
predetermined amount
movement
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
US454431A
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English (en)
Inventor
Peter Watson Leighton
Neil Tomlinson
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.)
Lucas Electrical Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Lucas Electrical Co Ltd
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 Lucas Electrical Co Ltd filed Critical Lucas Electrical Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3873795A publication Critical patent/US3873795A/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
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
    • H01H1/021—Composite material
    • H01H1/029—Composite material comprising conducting material dispersed in an elastic support or binding material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H15/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch
    • H01H15/02—Details
    • H01H15/06—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H15/10—Operating parts
    • H01H15/102—Operating parts comprising cam devices

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT An electrical switch comprising a body supporting a first electrical contact. A second electrical contact is spaced from the first contact and a switching element is interposed between the first and second contacts.
  • the switching element is formed from flexible, electrically insulating material and contains discrete particles of electrically conducting material which are brought into contact to define conductive paths through the element when the element is compressed beyond a predetermined amount.
  • Slidably mounted in the body is an operating member, and the operating member and the second contact include a cam arrangement whereby movement of the operating member in one direction causes movement of the second contact towards the first contact to compress the element. The element is compressed by this movement from a rest state wherein the element electrically insulates the first and second contacts from one another, beyond the predetermined amount so that the element electrically interconnects the first and second contacts.
  • An electrical switch in accordance with the invention includes a body, a first electrical contact supported by the body, a second electrical contact spaced from the first electrical contact, a switching element interposed between the first and second contacts, the switching element being formed from flexible, electrically insulating material containing discrete particles of electrically conducting material which are brought into contact to define conductive paths through the element when the element is compressed beyond a predetermined amount, an operating member mounted for sliding movement relative to the body, and cam means on the operating member and the second electrical contact whereby movement of the operating member relative to the body in one direction causes movement of the second contact towards the first contact compressing said element from a rest state wherein the element electrically insulates the second contact from the first contact, beyond said predetermined amount so that the element electrically interconnects the first and second contacts.
  • said second electrical contact is defined by one end of an elongate flexible conductive member the other end of which is secured to the body, the member extending within the body generally parallel to the direction of movement of the operating member, the flexible conducting member being flexed as a result of movement of the operating member in said one direction to compress the element.
  • cam means is defined by mating forms integral with the operating member and the second contact respectively.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are sectional views of the same switch in its operative position and its inoperative position respectively.
  • the switch is a normally closed switch particularly intended as a door operated courtesy light switch for a road vehicle.
  • the switch includes a generallycup-shaped moulded synthetic resin body 11 closed at one end by an integral base 12 and closed at its opposite-end by a conductive. cover member 13.
  • the cover member 13 is extended beyond the periphery of the body 11 to define a mounting bracket 14 and includes a right angled extension 15 which extends along the inner wall of the casing 11 and defines a first electrical contact 16.
  • a resilient, conductive blade 17 Secured to the base 12 and projecting from both sides thereof is a resilient, conductive blade 17.
  • the conductive paths established through the block are generally aligned in the direction in which the block is compressed.
  • Slidably received by the body 11 and the cover 13 is a moulded synthetic resin operating member 22.
  • the member 22 is slidable in a direction parallel to the blade 17 and includes an integral cam form 23 presented towards the blade 17.
  • the blade 17 is formed at its free end with a cam form 24 which extends towards the operating member 22, and the operating member 22 is urged by a spring 25 to a position wherein the member 22 projects from the cover 23 and the cam forms 23, 24 inter-engage to flex the inner portion of the blade 17 towards the contact 16.
  • the spring 25 is sufficiently strong to overcome the combined resilience of the blade 17 and the element 21 and the combined action of the cam forms 23, 24 moves the contact 19 through sufficient distance towards the contact 16 to compress the element 2] beyond said predetermined amount so that conductive paths are established through the element 21 between the contact 19 and the contact 16.
  • the element 21 completes an electrical circuit between the bracket 14 and the terminal 18.
  • the switch When the switch is used as a door operated courtesy light switch the body 11 is inserted through an aperture in the fixed frame of the door and the switch is held in position by securing the bracket to the frame of the door.
  • the operating member 22 thus projects from the frame of the door and is engageable with the door so that as the door is closed the operating member 22 is depressed into the body 11.
  • the electrical connection to the bracket 14 is of course made by way of the body of the vehicle to one pole of the vehicle battery, the terminal 18 being connected to the other pole of the vehicle battery by way of the courtesy light of the vehicle.
  • An electrical switch including a body, a first electrical contact supported by the body, a second electrical contact spaced from the first electrical contact, a switching element interposed between the first and second contacts, the switching element being formed from flexible, electrically insulating material containing discrete particles of electrically conducting material which are brought into contact to define conductive paths through the element when the element is compressed beyond a predetermined amount, an operating member mounted for sliding movement relative to the body, and cam means on the operating member and the second electrical contact whereby movement of the operating member relative to the body in one direction causes movement of the second contact towards the first contact compressing said element from a rest state wherein the element electrically insulates the second contact from the first contact, beyond said predetermined amount so that the element electrically interconnects the first and second contacts.
  • a switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second electrical contact is defined by one end of an elongate flexible conductive member the other end of which is secured to the body, the member extending within the body generally parallel to the direction of movement of the operating member, the flexible conducting member being flexed as a result of movement of the operating member in said one direction to compress the element.
  • a switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cam means is defined by mating forms integral with the operating member and the second contact respectively.
  • cam means is defined by mating forms integral with the operating member and the second contact respectively.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)
US454431A 1973-04-28 1974-03-25 Electrical switch with reciprocating cam Expired - Lifetime US3873795A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2030973A GB1454281A (en) 1973-04-28 1973-04-28 Electrical switch

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3873795A true US3873795A (en) 1975-03-25

Family

ID=10143850

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US454431A Expired - Lifetime US3873795A (en) 1973-04-28 1974-03-25 Electrical switch with reciprocating cam

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3873795A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5013889A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AR (1) AR198591A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU476009B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2419964A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES202652Y (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2227615B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1454281A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT1008476B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3944766A (en) * 1974-07-03 1976-03-16 Essex International, Inc. Seat belt buckle having pushbutton type switch with elastomeric conductor bridging contact
US3983355A (en) * 1973-06-21 1976-09-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switching apparatus
US3988556A (en) * 1973-06-21 1976-10-26 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switching apparatus
US4072204A (en) * 1975-01-21 1978-02-07 Lucas Industries Limited Cycle gear selector
US4114000A (en) * 1975-03-03 1978-09-12 Motorola, Inc. Multi-position switch with single sliding actuator cam, reciprocable cam follower and compressive conductive elastomer
US4429201A (en) 1982-02-12 1984-01-31 Midland-Ross Corporation Electrical switch having a reciprocating wiping actuator
US4867095A (en) * 1988-04-05 1989-09-19 Parker Hannifin Corporation Differential pressure indicator
US20160329165A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2016-11-10 Ian Blakeman Switch actuation device
US10073420B2 (en) 2006-01-31 2018-09-11 Ian Blakeman Switch actuation device

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2212615B (en) * 1987-11-24 1992-06-03 Kokoku Rubber Tech Pressure sensing device
DE19513679A1 (de) * 1995-04-11 1996-10-17 Marquardt Gmbh Elektrischer Schalter

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2991343A (en) * 1958-07-07 1961-07-04 Fed Pacific Electric Co Selective switches
US3509296A (en) * 1967-10-23 1970-04-28 Ncr Co Resilient variable-conductivity circuit controlling means
US3758733A (en) * 1971-10-04 1973-09-11 Essex International Inc Ric material and conductive particles therein pressure sensitive stepping switches with multi layer spring contact assembly with interposed layers of lubricated non-conductive elastome
US3830991A (en) * 1973-07-24 1974-08-20 Essex International Inc Pressure sensitive mat switch construction

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2991343A (en) * 1958-07-07 1961-07-04 Fed Pacific Electric Co Selective switches
US3509296A (en) * 1967-10-23 1970-04-28 Ncr Co Resilient variable-conductivity circuit controlling means
US3758733A (en) * 1971-10-04 1973-09-11 Essex International Inc Ric material and conductive particles therein pressure sensitive stepping switches with multi layer spring contact assembly with interposed layers of lubricated non-conductive elastome
US3830991A (en) * 1973-07-24 1974-08-20 Essex International Inc Pressure sensitive mat switch construction

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3983355A (en) * 1973-06-21 1976-09-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switching apparatus
US3988556A (en) * 1973-06-21 1976-10-26 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switching apparatus
US3944766A (en) * 1974-07-03 1976-03-16 Essex International, Inc. Seat belt buckle having pushbutton type switch with elastomeric conductor bridging contact
US4072204A (en) * 1975-01-21 1978-02-07 Lucas Industries Limited Cycle gear selector
US4114000A (en) * 1975-03-03 1978-09-12 Motorola, Inc. Multi-position switch with single sliding actuator cam, reciprocable cam follower and compressive conductive elastomer
US4429201A (en) 1982-02-12 1984-01-31 Midland-Ross Corporation Electrical switch having a reciprocating wiping actuator
US4867095A (en) * 1988-04-05 1989-09-19 Parker Hannifin Corporation Differential pressure indicator
US20160329165A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2016-11-10 Ian Blakeman Switch actuation device
US9865406B2 (en) * 2006-01-31 2018-01-09 Ian Blakeman Switch actuation device
US10073420B2 (en) 2006-01-31 2018-09-11 Ian Blakeman Switch actuation device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6737574A (en) 1975-10-02
IT1008476B (it) 1976-11-10
AU476009B2 (en) 1976-09-09
GB1454281A (en) 1976-11-03
ES202652Y (es) 1976-04-01
DE2419964A1 (de) 1974-11-14
ES202652U (es) 1975-12-01
JPS5013889A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-02-13
FR2227615B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-10-14
FR2227615A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-11-22
AR198591A1 (es) 1974-06-28

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