US985421A - Snap-switch. - Google Patents

Description

c. J. KLEIN.

} SNAP SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1909.

985,421. Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Witmeoaeo U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. KLEIN, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, "WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SNAP-SWITCH.

Continuation of application Serial No. 391,550, fiieirse teniber a, 1907.

' Serial No. 495,242.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residingat Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Snap-Switches, of

which the followin is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification. Y

My invention relates to improvements in" electric switches.

It has for an object to provide improved relations and certain claims herein are in tended to cover said features broadly.

In order to illustrate my invention more particularly, I have shown in the accompanying drawings certain features thereof in simplified form.

My invention may, of course, be embodied in various different forms and may be applied to switches of different types.

, This application is a continuation of and a substitute fdr my prior application, Serial No. 391,550, filed September 6, 1907. Varione species of the genericinvention covered by this applicationare shown, described and claimed in other applications filed by me and identified as follows: Serial No. 393,793, filed September 20, 1907, renewal Serial No. 574,685, filed July 30, 1910. Serial No. 393,7 94, filed September 20, 1907, renewal Serial No. 588,784, filed October 22, 1910. Serial No. 416,933, filed February 20, 1908, renewal Serial No. 588,785, filed October 22, 1910. Serial No. 416,934, filed Februar 20, 1908, renewal Serial No. 588,786, filed .ctober 22, 1910; p

In the drawings accompanying this specification like parts have been given the same reference numeralin the several views. v Figure 1 is asectional side elevation of a Specification of Letters Patent.

. simple form of switch in its closed position.

axis of the cam member.

.. I have shown', two upright guides 4, 5

Patented Feb. 28,1511.

this application filed May 11, 1909.

Fig; 2 is a sectional end elevation on the line 22 of F i l lookingin the direction of the arrows. iig. 3 is a sectional side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in the position in which the switch is about to open. Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Figs. 1 and 8 showing the parts in position in which the swith has opened. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation showing a somewhat modified form of the switch.

I provide a cam member 1, which, in the structure shown in the accompanying drawing, is in the form of a double frustum or wedge, the frustums being arranged base to base, so that the cam has an enlarged central portion from which tapering faces extend 'inwardly toward the longitudinal In other words, the cam may be said to bein the form of a double wedge, in which the wedges are arranged base to base. -The cam may, of

course, a'ssumevarious forms which will be the equivalent of thatshown and will perform the same function. The ends of the cam are r'ovided with operating buttons by means 0? which the cam may be moved inone direction or the other.

Any suitable supporting structure may be provided. For the purpose .of illustration,

through which extend the buttons 2, 3. I These guides'may be formed by the walls of a suitable casing.

The cam'is engaged by the helical spring 6. The periphery of the helices of the spring are directly engaged by an operating member, which, in the best embodiment of the invention, takes the form of a cam. In accordance with the. invention, the helical spring engages a cam member and in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated,the helical spring is shown in the form of a ring which entirely-surrounds the cam member.

The cam and spring are so arranged and coact in such a manner, that by reason of their construction and the pressure between them, a bodily movement of one along the engaging surface of the other is secured,

which movement takes place at an acc'elerated speedand independently of the push button or-other o crating means. In the form of the invention illustrated, the cam 1s moved to secure a predetermined relation with respect to the spring and then the spring moves automatically and independently of the cam and of the operating push button so as to actuate the contacts, to make or break the circuit. This movement of the spring takes place in a similar path and in a reversed direction to the movement of the cam. It is thus impossible to stop the snap action of the make or break of the circuit by holding the push button.

'Suitable means are provided for controlling the contacts of the electric circuit through the action of the helical spring whereby said. circuit may be made and broken. In the best embodiment of the invention, I provide a separate contact member which, in the form illustrated includes a ring 7. It will be seen that over the helical spring extends a ring 7 which is preferably of curved cross-section and is split so that it may be spread to allow the helical spring to expand. This ring forms a movable switch contact which is adapted to bridge the stationary switch contacts 8 and 9 mounted upon the guide 5. Of course, the switch contacts may assume various forms and be arranged in different ways. The construction and arrangement of these contacts shown in the drawing has been selected merely for the purpose of a simple illustration of the application of my invention.

The guidesin addition to supporting the cam, form stops to limit the bodily movement of the helical spring. In the form of the invention illustrated, the'guides also limit the movement of the cam. Of course,

any suitable form of stops may be provided for this purpose.

In Fig. 1 the switch contacts are shown in closed position and the cam member stands to the left of the helical spring. If now the cam member be moved toward the right, the right-hand cone will pass into the helical spring and spread it, as shown in Fig. 3, the helical spring bearing against its right-hand guide orstop 5. When the right-hand cone passes through the spring and the left-hand cone comes into engagement with saidwill bear a ainst the left-hand guide or stop 4 and the eft hand cone will pass into the samean'd spread it. When the right-hand cone comes into engagement with the spring the ressure of the s ring u on the righthan cone will cause it to sli e quickly over the same to the right until it engages the right-hand stop, thereby causing the movable contact 7 to uickly engage the stationary contacts 8 and 9 and close the switch.

The switch contacts may be of various forms, and associated with the operating elements of the structure in various ways. As hereinbefore stated, the structure that is shown in the drawing has been selected as a cally operated switch is a door switch. In

Fig. 5 I have illustrated such a switch to which my invention is applied. In thisfigare the parts which correspond to those in Figs. 1 to 4, have been given the same reference numeral with the exponent prime, as, for instance, 1', 2.

To the guide 5 is attached a tubular member 10 in which is arranged a spring 11 which is interposed between the button 3 and the outer end of the tubular member. The spring urges the cam member to its left-hand position in which position the switch is closed.- When the switch is applied for use in connection with a door, it may be so arranged that the door may engage the button 2 and .force'. the cam member to the right against the tension of the spring when the door is closed, thereby opening the switch. When the door is open the cam member is released and the spring forces it to the. left, thereby closing the switch. Of course this form of switch may be applied in various relations.

The structure which my invention provides produces a switch which is simple and compact in construction, and eflicient and durable in service, and in which there is a quick make and break between the contacts.

As has been previously said, the drawin s in this application merely depict a simp e form of. my invention for the purpose of convenient illustration.

From the disclosure that I have made herein many different forms of switch may be devised to embody my invention. drawings and foregoing description should therefore be construed not in a limiting sense but simply as illustrative of one of various embodiments of my invention.

IVhat I claim is:

.1. In an electric switch in combination, a cam, operating means, a spring directly engaging said cam, said spring and cam being movable relatively to cause coaction one with the other whereby one of said parts is caused to move bodily relatively to the other The thereby.

at an accelerated speed independently of said operating means, and a switch contact associated with said spring and actuated thereby.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a cam, opera-ting means, a spring directly engaging said cam, saidsprlng and cam beingmovable relatively to cause coa'ctlon one with the other whereby one of said parts is caused tomove bodily relatively to the other at an accelerated speed in a similar path by the movement of said cam at a predetermined point in its travel independently of said operating means, and a switch contactassociated with said resilient member and actuated therebv.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, a

cam, operating means. a spring directly engaging and carriedby said cam, said cam and spring being movable relatIvelv to cause coaction one with the'other whereby oneof said parts is caused to move bodilyrelatively' to the other at an accelerated speed independentl of said operating means, and

. a switch contact associated with said spring and actuated thereby.

4. In an electricswitch, in combination, operating means comprising a movable member having oppositely inclined conical surfaces on either side of a line transverse in the axis thereof, and a spring operativelyengaged by said inclined conical surfaces.

'caused to move bodily by the movement of said first named member, and means whereby said spring and movable member are' adapted to control an electric circuit.

"In an electric switch, in combination, a cam, operating means, a spring directly engaging said cam, said spring and cam being movable relatively to cause coaction one with the other'whereby one of said parts is caused to move bodily relatively to the other at an accelerated speed in a similar path in a reversed direction independently of said operating means, and a switch contact associated with the 6. In an electric switch, in combination, operating means comprising two members having the same linear motion,.one of said members comprising a bodv provided with a plurality of operative relativel angular spring and cam and actuatedmembers comprising a body of varying transverse sectional areas and provided with a. plurality'of operative relatively angularly disposed facial portions grouped about a central axis of said body and the other of said members being a spring arranged to be directly and operatively engaged with said facial portions in such arrangement that one of said members ,is caused to move bodily relatively to the other at an accelerated speed independently of said operatingmeans, and a switch contact associated with the members and actuated thereby.

8.111 an electric switch, in combination,

operating means comprising two members having the same linear mot1on,one of said members comprising a body provided with a plurality of operative relatively angularly disposed smooth facial portions grouped about a central axis of said .body and the other of said members being a spring arranged to be directly and operatively engaged with said smooth facial portionsin such arrangement that one of said members is caused to move bodily relatively to the other at an accelerated speed independently of said operating means and a switch con-- tact associated with the members and actu-- ated thereby.

9. In an electric switch, in combination, a helical s rin a movable cam member enp. m gagedthereby, said cam member having a tapering face which may be brought into engagement with said helical spring to cause said spring to lTlOVG'bOdllY. over said tapering face, and means whereby said parts are 7 adapted to controlan el ectr1c'c1rcu1t.

10. In an electric switch, 1n combination,

a helical spring, a cam member having a tapering face, said cam member being movable to bring said tapering face into engagement with said-helical spring, whereby said helical spring will engage said taperingface, and cause bodily movement of one of said elements, and'means whereby said parts are adapted to control an electric circuit;

11. In an electric switch, in combination, a cam member having a conical portion. a helical spring circumferentially engaging said cam, said cam being movable to bring said conical portion into engagement with said s ring and cause bodily movement thereo relatively to said cam member, and

means whereby saidparts. are adapted to control an electric circuit. 5

I 12. In an electric switch, in combination, a cam member having two oppositely inwardly taperingportion's, and a helical spring engaging therewith and caused tomove bodily relatively thereto, stops for limiting bodily movement of said s ring,

and means whereby said parts are a apted to control an ,electriccircuit.

13. In an electric switch,- in combination, a cam member in the form of a double frustum positioned base to base, a helical spring engaging said cam member and caused to move bodily relatively thereto, and means whereby said parts are adapted to control an electric circuit.

14. In an electric switch. in combination, a cam having an operating portion of decreasing longitudinal cross section with a curved surface transverse to the axis thereof, a spring operatively engaging the curved surface of said cam and adapted to be caused to move bodily relatively thereto when in engagement with said operating portion thereof, and means whereby said parts are adapted to control an electric circuit.

15. In an electric switch, in combination, a longitudinally movable cam having an en larged central portion with inclined surfaces on opposite sides thereof, a bodily movable spring yieldingly and directly engaging said cam whereby said cam maybe moved relatively to said spring to cause an independent and accelerated movement of said spring, and means whereby said parts are adapted to control an electric circuit.

16. In an electric switch, in combination, operating means comprising a movable operating member having oppositely lnclined conical, surfaces, a spring directly engaging the conical surface of said operating member, said operating member being movable relatively to said spring whereby said spring partakes of bodily movement caused by co action of said resilient member and the inclined surfaces, and means whereby said parts are adapted to control an electric circuit.

17. In an electric switch, in combination, operating-means comprising a movable operating member having oppositely inclined conical surfaces, a spring directly engaging the conical surface of said 0 crating memher, said operating member eing movable to transfer said spring from engagement with one of said surfaces to the other whereby said spring partakes of bodily movement caused by a coaction of-said spring and the inclined conical surfaces, and means whereby said parts are adapted to control an elec-' tric circuit.

18. In an electric switch, in combination, an operating member having oppositely iuclined conical surfaces on opposite sides of its center, a spring directly engaging and lying around said operating member, stops limiting bodily movement of said spring, said operatin member being movable and so constructe as to pass its center through said spring to cause said spring to move bodily at an accelerated movement independently of the movement of said operating member, and means whereby said parts are adapted to cont-r01 an electric circuit.

19. In an electric switch, in combination, a cam having oppositely inclined faces on contacts actuated by coaction opposite sides of its center, a spring engaging therewith, said cam being adapted to be moved relatively thereto to bring one or the other of said faces into engagement with said spring to cause it to move upon said face at an accelerated s eed, and means whereby said parts are a apted to control an electric circuit.

20. In an electric switch, in combination, a cam member having oppositely inwardly tapering portions, 9. helica spring engaging therewith, and caused to move bodily relatively thereto, and switch contacts associated with said parts and actuated thereby.

21. In an electric switch, in combination, a cam member in the form of a double frustum, a helical spring engaging there with, means for limiting bodily movement of said spring and guiding said cam, and means whereby said parts are adapted to control an electric circuit.

2 In an electric switch, in combination, an operating cam member in the form of a double frustum with the frustums sitioned base to base, a helical spring engaging therewith, means for limiting bodily movement of said helical spring, and means for actuating said cam member and switch contacts actuated by coactionbetween said cam member and said spring. 7

23. In an electric switch, in combination,

. a helical spring, a movable cam member engaged thereby, said cam member having a tapering face which may be brought into engagement with said helical spring to cause said springto move bodily oversaid ta rin wit 1 said elements and actuated thereby.

24. In an electric switch, in combination, a helical spring, a cam member having a tapering face, said cam member being mov able to bring said taperin face into en ment with said helical sp ing, whereby i d helical spring will engage said taperin face and cause bodily movement of one 0% said elements, and switch contacts associated with said elements and actuated thereby.

25. In an electric switch, in combination,

a cam member'having a conical portion, a. helical sprlng circumferentially engaging said cam, said cam being movable to bring said conical portion into said spring, and cause a thereof re at en gement wit bodily movement ively to said cam between said cam member and said sprin y 26. In an electric switch, in combination, a cam having two oppositel inwardly tapering portions, and a'helica spring enga ing therewith, and caused to move bodify relatively thereto, switch contacts associated with said stops for limiting bodily movement of spring. 7

27. In an electric switch, in combination,

said

' and switch parts and actuated thereby and a cam member in the form of a double frustum, positioned base to base, a helical spring engaging said cam member, and caused to move bodily relatively thereto, and switch contacts actuated by coaction between said cam member and said spring. a

28. In an electric snap switch, the combination of a cam, a spring directly engaging said cam, operating means, said cam,

thereby, a spring directly engaging said cam, said cam and spring coacting so that the pressure between them causes a quick bodily movement of one along the engaging surface of the other independently of the push button, and means whereby said cam and spring by said bodily movement are adapted to control an electric circuit, when said push button is actuated.

30. In an electric snap switch, a base, a double end push button projecting through each side of the base so as to be pushed from either side, said button having a cam portion, a spring directly engaging said cam portion, and a movable contact, the-parts-being so arranged and coacting thatwhen said push button is pushed back and forth an accelerated movement is given to said contact independently of said push button.

31. In an electric snap switch, the combination of a push button, said push button having a portion carrying the cam, a spring directly engaging said cam, said cam and spring coacting so that the pressure between them causes a quick bodily movement of one along the engaging surface of the other, means whereby said cam and spring by said bodily movement are adapted to control an electric circuit, when said push button is actuated, and supporting guides for said push button adapted by contact with the faces of the cam to limit the movement of the push button.

32. In an electric snap switch, a base, a

double end push button, projecting through each side of the base so as to be pushed from either side, said button carrying a cam portion, a spring directly engaging said cam portion, said spring having a portion which is bodily movable with relation to and along the engaging surface ofv the cam and a movable contact, the parts being so arranged and coacting that said cam and spring cooperate when said push button is pushed back and forth, so that said contact is given an accel- I(grated movement independently of said push utton.

33. In an electric snap switch, the combination of a cam, a spring directly engaging therewith, switch contacts connected to one of said parts, means for moving one. of said parts with relation to the other, so as to place said spring under tension and to secure a predetermined relation between said cam and spring, said cam and spring after said predetermined relation has been established, actuating said switch contacts independently of the means for moving one of the parts. I

34. In a mechanical movement, the combination of a cam, a spring directly engaging said cam, an operated part, connections between said operated part and one of said members, means for moving one of said members with relation to the other so as to secure a predetermined relation between the cam and spring, said cam and spring actuating said operated part, after said predetermined relation has been established independently of the means for moving one of said members.

35. Ina mechanical movement, the combination of a cam, said cam having an inclined face, a bodily movable spring directly engaging said cam, means for moving said cam to a predetermined position with relation to said spring, means wherebysaid cam and spring coact to cause said spring topartake of a quick bodily-movement over the inclined surface of said cam independently of the means for moving the cam and after the predetermined positionhas been established and a part to be moved mechanically connected with said spring and actuated thereby.

36. In an electric snap switch, the combination of a cam, a tension spring directly engaging said cam, one of said parts being movable along the engaging surface of the other, operating means, said cam and spring coacting so that the pressure between them causes a quick movement of one along the engaging surface of the other independently of the operating means, and means whereby said cam and spring by said move'mentare adapted to control an electric circuit.

37. In an'electric snap switch, the combination of a cam, a coiled tension spring directly engaging said cam, operating means,

said cam and spring coacting so that the that of the base of said conical portion of! said cam, stationary switch contacts, a push button, said spring being bodily movable along the face of said cam and adapted to control the make and break of an electric circuit to which said contacts are connected.

39. In a snap switch, the combination of stationary contacts, a cam having two oppositely tapering portions, said portions,

being arranged base to base, a helical spring ring (llrectly engaging and surrounding said cam and moving bodily relatively thereto,

and means for moving said spring along said cam, said spring being adapted to make and break an electric circuit to which said contacts are connected.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Witnesses A. C. MAAGE, FRANK H. IIUBBARD.

Images