US3902032A - Electrical switch with improved contact structure - Google Patents

Electrical switch with improved contact structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3902032A
US3902032A US477219A US47721974A US3902032A US 3902032 A US3902032 A US 3902032A US 477219 A US477219 A US 477219A US 47721974 A US47721974 A US 47721974A US 3902032 A US3902032 A US 3902032A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
contacts
arm
plunger
contact surface
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
US477219A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John A Koepke
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.)
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Original Assignee
Illinois Tool Works Inc
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 Illinois Tool Works Inc filed Critical Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority to US477219A priority Critical patent/US3902032A/en
Priority to DE19752524743 priority patent/DE2524743A1/de
Priority to BR4526/75D priority patent/BR7503534A/pt
Priority to FR7517769A priority patent/FR2274128A1/fr
Priority to NL7506742A priority patent/NL7506742A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3902032A publication Critical patent/US3902032A/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
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
    • 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
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
    • H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
    • 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
    • H01H13/10—Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon
    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/50—Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position

Definitions

  • An electrical switch with an improved contact structure of the type having a depressible plunger with a contact separator for separating two flexible contacts when the plunger is in one position and for allowing the contacts to close when the plunger is in a second position is disclosed.
  • the improved contact structure consists of two identical bifurcated contacts, one arm of which has a flat contact surface and the other arm 7 of which has a curved contact surface. The contacts are positioned so that the curved arm of each contact engages the flat arm of the other contact when the switch is closed.
  • the object of the present invention to provide an improved contact structure for an electrical switch in which two contacts are positioned in the switch so that they are normally biased towards each other, and a plunger with a separator member on it de termines whether or not the two contact members remain separated or closed, wherein the improved contact structure is provided by two contacts which are identical and which have bifurcated ends constructed so that one arm of each contact is flat and the other arm of each contact is curved with the contacts being aligned so that the curved arm of each contact engages the flat arm of the other contact when the switch is closed.
  • FIG. 1 is a top view of a switch employing the improved contact structure of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved contact structure of the present invention removed from the switch of FIG. I;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the switch of FIG. 1 with the plunger in an undepressed position and the contacts in an open position;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the switch of FIG. I with the plunger depressed and the contacts in a closed position.
  • FIGS.'1, 3, 4 A switch constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS.'1, 3, 4.
  • the switch 10 comprises a housing 12 which has an upper panel member 14 formed with a boss 16 that has a central aperture I8.
  • a plunger 20 is inserted into the central aperture 18 of the boss 16, which has a rim 21 that surrounds it so as to engage it to the upper end of a return spring 23.
  • the lower end of the return spring 23 is retained in the groove 24 formed in the interior of the housing 12.
  • a pair of contacts 28, are secured into the housing 12 with the upper contact portion 32 of the contacts 28,
  • the housing 12 is preferably formed of a plastics, and the contacts 28, 30 are preferably secured into the housing 12 by molding the sections 29, 31 of the contacts 28, 30 into the housing 12 when it is formed.
  • the contacts 28, 30 have angled sections 34, 36 between the contact portion 32 and the molded in sections 29, 31 which slope towards each other.
  • the angled sections 34, 36 are biased towards each other so that they tend to engage each other.
  • the plunger 20 of the switch 10 carries a separator member 27 which contacts the angled sections 34, 36 of the contacts 28, 30 when the plunger is not depressed so as to maintain the contacts 28, 30 open, as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the plunger 20 is preferably formed of plastics and the separator member 27 is preferably integrally formed on the plunger 20. When the plunger is depressed, as shown in FIG. 4, the separator member 27 is lowered below the point where it no longer contacts the angled sections 34, 36 and the contacts 28, 30 are thereby allowed to close.
  • the improved contact structure of the present invention is best shown by reference to FIG. 2.
  • the contacts 28, 30 are constructed with a pair of bifurcated arms 42, 44 and 38, 40 respectively.
  • the bifurcated arms 40, 42 are formed with arcuate curved contact surfaces on the outer end of the straight segments 46 while the arms 38, 44 have substantially flat contact surfaces which engage the opposing curved contact surfaces 42, 40, respectively.
  • the design of the illustrated contacts 28, 30 provides a contact structure that has low contact bounce and increased reliability because of the bifurcated construction of the contact arms.
  • the manufacturing cost of the contacts of the present invention is relatively low, since the arms 38, 40, 42 and 44are integrally formed on the contacts 28, 30.
  • An additional feature of the contact structure of the present invention is that while the contacts 28, 30 are designed to be identical, the actual contacts will be slightly different due to manufacturing tolerances. This slight difference will provide slightly unbalanced forces that will aid in providing wiping action between the contact members 38, 42 and the contact members 40, 44 as they settle to their equilibrium positions.
  • an electrical switch comprising a housing, a depressible plunger, means for biasing the plunger to its undepressed state and a separator member which is depressible when said plunger is depressed; an improved contact structure comprising first and second contacts secured in said housing each of which comprise an angled section which provides a bias on said contacts that tends to force said contacts towards each other, and a bifurcated contact portion consisting of a first arm on I each contact having an arcuate curved contact surface and a second arm on each contact having a substantially flat contact surface wherein the curved contact surface of said first arm of said first contact is positioned so as to engage the flat contact surface of said second arm of said second contact and the curved contact surface of said first arm of said second contact is positioned so as to engage the flat contact surface of said second arm of said first contact when said first and second contacts are closed by movement of said separator member due to depression of said plunger to a position where it no longer separates said first and second contact members from each other.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
US477219A 1974-06-07 1974-06-07 Electrical switch with improved contact structure Expired - Lifetime US3902032A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US477219A US3902032A (en) 1974-06-07 1974-06-07 Electrical switch with improved contact structure
DE19752524743 DE2524743A1 (de) 1974-06-07 1975-06-04 Elektrischer schalter mit verbesserter kontaktkonstruktion
BR4526/75D BR7503534A (pt) 1974-06-07 1975-06-05 Chave eletrica
FR7517769A FR2274128A1 (fr) 1974-06-07 1975-06-06 Interrupteur electrique
NL7506742A NL7506742A (nl) 1974-06-07 1975-06-06 Schakelaar.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US477219A US3902032A (en) 1974-06-07 1974-06-07 Electrical switch with improved contact structure

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3902032A true US3902032A (en) 1975-08-26

Family

ID=23895018

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US477219A Expired - Lifetime US3902032A (en) 1974-06-07 1974-06-07 Electrical switch with improved contact structure

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3902032A (pt)
BR (1) BR7503534A (pt)
DE (1) DE2524743A1 (pt)
FR (1) FR2274128A1 (pt)
NL (1) NL7506742A (pt)

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4002879A (en) * 1975-08-26 1977-01-11 Burroughs Corporation Double column leaf spring push-button switch
US4169974A (en) * 1978-03-30 1979-10-02 Amf Incorporated Push operated momentary switch
FR2451132A1 (fr) * 1979-03-05 1980-10-03 Illinois Tool Works Commutateur electrique a touche
FR2451118A1 (fr) * 1979-03-05 1980-10-03 Konen Heinz Socle de prise de remorque se fixant sur un vehicule automobile et comportant un dispositif de coupure de feu arriere antibrouillard
US4255635A (en) * 1979-09-17 1981-03-10 Stackpole Components Company Keyswitch
EP0043618A1 (en) * 1980-07-08 1982-01-13 Philips Electronics Uk Limited Push button switch
US4342892A (en) * 1980-08-08 1982-08-03 Stackpole Components Company Keyswitch
US4361743A (en) * 1981-03-06 1982-11-30 Stackpole Components Company Lost motion keyswitch
US4398069A (en) * 1982-04-26 1983-08-09 Amp Incorporated Sealed electrical contact assembly and actuating mechanism therefor
US4417106A (en) * 1981-12-02 1983-11-22 Amp Incorporated Sealed electrical contact assembly and electrical switch made therefrom
US4497983A (en) * 1983-05-23 1985-02-05 Amp Incorporated Electrical hook switch
US4514609A (en) * 1981-10-09 1985-04-30 Itt Industries, Inc. Pushbutton switch having leaf-shaped contact spring
US4531026A (en) * 1982-03-19 1985-07-23 Sony Corporation Multiple switch assembly having pulsating secondary contacts
US4599498A (en) * 1985-01-14 1986-07-08 Kobishi Electric Co., Ltd. Tamper switch
US4670629A (en) * 1985-06-20 1987-06-02 Cts Corporation Alternate action push-push switch
US4687888A (en) * 1985-05-29 1987-08-18 E. I. Dupont De Nemours And Co. Electrical connector with switch
US5408061A (en) * 1993-11-30 1995-04-18 Inventio Ag Emergency stop switch
EP0831509A2 (de) * 1996-09-21 1998-03-25 KACO ELEKTROTECHNIK GmbH Antriebssystem für Schalter, insbesondere für Relais
US5952903A (en) * 1994-07-04 1999-09-14 Power Breaker Plc Operation of residual current devices
US6441332B1 (en) 2001-02-15 2002-08-27 Maytag Corporation Switch assembly incorporating contact wedge
ES2195761A1 (es) * 2001-12-28 2003-12-01 Valeo Sist Seguridad Y Cierre Interruptor de apertura para puertas o portones traseros de vehiculos
US20090295371A1 (en) * 2008-05-30 2009-12-03 Itron, Inc. Actuator/wedge improvements to embedded meter switch
US20110074600A1 (en) * 2009-09-30 2011-03-31 Itron, Inc. Utility remote disconnect from a meter reading system
US20110074602A1 (en) * 2009-09-30 2011-03-31 Itron, Inc. Gas shut-off valve with feedback
US8890711B2 (en) 2009-09-30 2014-11-18 Itron, Inc. Safety utility reconnect
US9005423B2 (en) 2012-12-04 2015-04-14 Itron, Inc. Pipeline communications

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3027304C2 (de) 1980-07-18 1982-09-30 Sds-Elektro Gmbh, 8024 Deisenhofen Elektrischer Mehrlagenkontakt
DE3045929A1 (de) * 1980-12-05 1982-07-22 Ulo-Werk Moritz Ullmann Gmbh & Co Kg, 7340 Geislingen Ruhekontaktschalter
DE3324255A1 (de) * 1983-07-06 1985-01-17 Rudolf Schadow Gmbh, 1000 Berlin Kontaktanordnung
DE3324253A1 (de) * 1983-07-06 1985-01-17 Rudolf Schadow Gmbh, 1000 Berlin Tastenschalter
DE3324254A1 (de) * 1983-07-06 1985-01-17 Rudolf Schadow Gmbh, 1000 Berlin Kontaktfedersatz

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2772579A (en) * 1952-04-09 1956-12-04 Harvey E Gagne Card driving mechanism
US2903540A (en) * 1958-03-12 1959-09-08 Carter Parts Company Push button switch
US3239629A (en) * 1963-10-15 1966-03-08 Lesser Norton Contact operator
US3361888A (en) * 1966-03-01 1968-01-02 Wood Electric Corp Trip-free circuit breaker with thermally responsive snap action switch
US3751618A (en) * 1972-02-23 1973-08-07 Hi Tek Corp Push-switch with spring biased plunger

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2772579A (en) * 1952-04-09 1956-12-04 Harvey E Gagne Card driving mechanism
US2903540A (en) * 1958-03-12 1959-09-08 Carter Parts Company Push button switch
US3239629A (en) * 1963-10-15 1966-03-08 Lesser Norton Contact operator
US3361888A (en) * 1966-03-01 1968-01-02 Wood Electric Corp Trip-free circuit breaker with thermally responsive snap action switch
US3751618A (en) * 1972-02-23 1973-08-07 Hi Tek Corp Push-switch with spring biased plunger

Cited By (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4002879A (en) * 1975-08-26 1977-01-11 Burroughs Corporation Double column leaf spring push-button switch
US4169974A (en) * 1978-03-30 1979-10-02 Amf Incorporated Push operated momentary switch
FR2451132A1 (fr) * 1979-03-05 1980-10-03 Illinois Tool Works Commutateur electrique a touche
FR2451118A1 (fr) * 1979-03-05 1980-10-03 Konen Heinz Socle de prise de remorque se fixant sur un vehicule automobile et comportant un dispositif de coupure de feu arriere antibrouillard
US4227163A (en) * 1979-03-05 1980-10-07 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Electrical keyswitch
US4255635A (en) * 1979-09-17 1981-03-10 Stackpole Components Company Keyswitch
US4385219A (en) * 1980-07-08 1983-05-24 U.S. Philips Corporation Push button switch
EP0043618A1 (en) * 1980-07-08 1982-01-13 Philips Electronics Uk Limited Push button switch
US4342892A (en) * 1980-08-08 1982-08-03 Stackpole Components Company Keyswitch
US4361743A (en) * 1981-03-06 1982-11-30 Stackpole Components Company Lost motion keyswitch
US4514609A (en) * 1981-10-09 1985-04-30 Itt Industries, Inc. Pushbutton switch having leaf-shaped contact spring
US4417106A (en) * 1981-12-02 1983-11-22 Amp Incorporated Sealed electrical contact assembly and electrical switch made therefrom
US4531026A (en) * 1982-03-19 1985-07-23 Sony Corporation Multiple switch assembly having pulsating secondary contacts
US4398069A (en) * 1982-04-26 1983-08-09 Amp Incorporated Sealed electrical contact assembly and actuating mechanism therefor
US4497983A (en) * 1983-05-23 1985-02-05 Amp Incorporated Electrical hook switch
US4599498A (en) * 1985-01-14 1986-07-08 Kobishi Electric Co., Ltd. Tamper switch
US4687888A (en) * 1985-05-29 1987-08-18 E. I. Dupont De Nemours And Co. Electrical connector with switch
US4670629A (en) * 1985-06-20 1987-06-02 Cts Corporation Alternate action push-push switch
US5408061A (en) * 1993-11-30 1995-04-18 Inventio Ag Emergency stop switch
US5952903A (en) * 1994-07-04 1999-09-14 Power Breaker Plc Operation of residual current devices
EP0831509A2 (de) * 1996-09-21 1998-03-25 KACO ELEKTROTECHNIK GmbH Antriebssystem für Schalter, insbesondere für Relais
EP0831509A3 (de) * 1996-09-21 1998-12-09 KACO ELEKTROTECHNIK GmbH Antriebssystem für Schalter, insbesondere für Relais
US6046418A (en) * 1996-09-21 2000-04-04 Kaco Elektrotechnik Gmbh Drive system for switch, especially relay
US6441332B1 (en) 2001-02-15 2002-08-27 Maytag Corporation Switch assembly incorporating contact wedge
ES2195761A1 (es) * 2001-12-28 2003-12-01 Valeo Sist Seguridad Y Cierre Interruptor de apertura para puertas o portones traseros de vehiculos
US20090294260A1 (en) * 2008-05-30 2009-12-03 Itron,Inc. Meter with integrated high current switch
US20090295371A1 (en) * 2008-05-30 2009-12-03 Itron, Inc. Actuator/wedge improvements to embedded meter switch
US8040664B2 (en) 2008-05-30 2011-10-18 Itron, Inc. Meter with integrated high current switch
US8395464B2 (en) 2008-05-30 2013-03-12 Itron, Inc. Actuator/wedge improvements to embedded meter switch
US20110074600A1 (en) * 2009-09-30 2011-03-31 Itron, Inc. Utility remote disconnect from a meter reading system
US20110074602A1 (en) * 2009-09-30 2011-03-31 Itron, Inc. Gas shut-off valve with feedback
US8493232B2 (en) 2009-09-30 2013-07-23 Itron, Inc. Gas shut-off valve with feedback
US8890711B2 (en) 2009-09-30 2014-11-18 Itron, Inc. Safety utility reconnect
US9005423B2 (en) 2012-12-04 2015-04-14 Itron, Inc. Pipeline communications

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2524743A1 (de) 1975-12-18
FR2274128A1 (fr) 1976-01-02
NL7506742A (nl) 1975-12-09
FR2274128B3 (pt) 1978-02-03
BR7503534A (pt) 1976-06-22

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