US1366700A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

N. W. NUTT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1919.

1,366,700. Patented Jan. 25, 1921;.

INVENTOR zoflwwn4, M

BY aaw/M ATTORNEY 1mm WI N 'U TT OI TEENTON, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWI'IGH.

p fn mm mnt. Patente'd Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed .Tune 14, 1919. Serial 1th. 804,148..

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, NORMAN W. NU'r'r, a

' citizen of the United States, residin in efficient snap switch of the character indi- Trenton, in the county of Mercer and tate of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to quick action snap switches adapted to open and close an elec: tric circuit with a rapid snap action to avoid sparking at the contacts, and is particularly adapted use in lamp sockets intended to carry a relatively heavy wattage current without den or of arcing between the switch terminals. %he principalobject of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and cate'd, involving comparatively few elements, which are sb constructed and arranged as to avoid undue wear orderangement, and in which a partial rotation'of the switch spindle will first initiatea disen agement of a rotary switch plate from a 100 ing plate and exert tension on the switch plate, by means ofa spring connection between-the same and the spindle which spring has been previously put undertension by the initial turning of the spindle; so that the switch plate will be given a partial rotation, preferably 90, when it is again locked to the locking plate, the opening and closing rotary movement of the switch plate being eflected so ra idly that arcing between the terminals of t e switch plate and the fixed contacts or terminals ispractically eliminated;

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a lamp socket, the outer shell or casing being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a vertical-elevation of the switch plate and the cam or dog adapted to lift the same.

Fig.- 3 is a similar view of the switch plate per se. a

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectlon through the same.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the cam cooperating with the swltchplate.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the locking plate.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the same.

Fig. 9 is a vertical elevation of the switch plate showing the actuatingtsprings connecting the same with the she Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1' and 2 indicate the upperland lower halves of a lamp socket supporting base formed Fig. 10 is adetail view of'theswitch spine of molded porcelain or any other suitable insulating. material, the contacting faces of sald members being provided with grooves or channels which constitute bearings for the shank of a key spindle, when the two halves of the base are secured together by screws in the usual manner. The upper section 1 of the base carries the usual spring contact 20 connected with wire terminal 21', and the lower section is provided with the spring I contact 22 having'the usual center contact 23 within the screw-threaded socket 24. The engaging faces of the members 1 and 2 on the handle side of the socket are extended to constitute an elongated bearing for the cylindrical portion of the spindle 3, the inner end of which is forked or bifurcated as at 3. and 1s generally'rectangular in cross section, and the outer end of which is provided with the usual thumb piece 19. Mounted on the cylindrical portion of the spindle 3 is a washer 18,-which abuts has or projections 17 formed on the. spindle and which serves to accurately "space the spindle in the base, as indicated in Fig. 1, said washer engaging the inner end of the bearing in which thespindle-rotates.-

Loosely mounted on the forward or bifur cated end of the spindle 3, so as to be capable of .longitudinal movement thereon, or rotative' movement independently thereof, is a switch plate 4, which is preferably formed as a stamping from sheet metal, having a central annular portion with twooppositely .disposedlateral arms having contacts'5 disposed at right angles thereto for cooperation I shorter arms at right angles to the contact arms and terminatlng in upturned ea1s 6,'6.

with the spring contacts 22 andv 20, and two 7 The center of the switch plate is recessed as.

at 8 to permit said plate to move freely either axially or circumferentially with respect to the spindle. Thelong arms of the switch plate are provided with detent's 7', 7,

which are preferably formed as bosses pressed outward from the rear of the plate, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 4. Between each of the detents 7 and the center of the switch plate is formed a similar boss 7 which constitutes a cam member by means of which the switch plate is moved springs being attached to the lugs 6, 6 on op- 19.

posite sides of the switch plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, so that when the spindle is turned in one direction, one spring is placed under tension and when turned in the opposite-direction the other is'put under tension,

and both tend to rotate the switch plate. Ob viously instead of the dual spring arrange- -ment as illustrated, a single spiral ,spring may be employed, but the double arrange ment is found preferable in that it produces asmoother and more. positive snap action. In order to conserve space, the two springs are nested or disposed so that the convolutions of one lie within those of the other, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 9.

'Located within a squared recess formed in the base concentric with the spindle 3 is a stop plate 9 having a dished central portion with an enlarged opening 10 and its sides forming a square which conforms to the recess in the walls of the base within which said locking plate is rigidly held. Each peripheral edge of the locking plate is provided with-a recess .11 the edges of which constitute stops with which the bosses 7, 7 on the switch plate engage to retain the switch plate locked in either opened or closed relation.

. Fixed to the squared end 3 of the spindle 3 and occupying the dished portion of the stop plate 9 is a cam 12 having oppositely extending radial cam members and a central flange 14 provided with a squared opening 13 by means of which the cam is locked to the spindle for rotating movement but is slidable thereon when the parts are to be assembled or adjusted- The radial fingers of the cam member 12 cooperate .with the rounded cam-like bosses 7 on the switch plate and serve to force the switch .plate' the various elements, the springs 15 and 16 are secured by their ends constituting the apices of the spirals, in the bifurcated member 3' of the spindle 3. The switch plate 4 is then slipped over the spindle and the free ends of the springs 15 and 16 secured to the arms 6, 6 of the switch plate. The squared end of the spindle 3' is then passed through the squared eye 13 in the cam 12,and the locking plate 9 is placed over the cam 12 so that the bosses 7, 7 of the switch plate engage.

two opposite stops 11 on the locking plate. The spindle with its associated elements is then laid in the groove formed in one of the base members, so that the locking plate engages the squared recess therein and the several members,- to wit, the switch plate 4, the cam or dog 12, and the locking plate 9 are forced into intimate engagement by the tension exerted by springs 15 and 16, and the spindle is held against axial movement by the washer 18, which engages the extension on the wall of the base on one hand and the lugs or projections 17 formed on the spindle, on the other. The second member of the base is then applied and secured to its cocperating member by suitable screws or other fastenings and the device as thus assembled is ready for; application of the usual shell or casing.

.As. illustrated in Fig. l, the switch is closed as the contact members 5, 5 of the switch plate are in engagement with the spring contacts 20 and 22, located in the respective base members. It will be noted that the detents 7, 7 on the switch plate 4 are in engagement with two opposite stops 11, 11 on the locking plate 9. In order to open the switch, the spindle 3 is given a partial turn by means of the hand piece 19, the first effect of which is to put one of the springs 15, 16 under tension, which action tends to rotate switch plate 4. The rotary movement of the spindle 3 rotates the cam 12 and causes the outer ends of the arms thereof to engage the bosses 7 a of the switch plate and thereby move the switch plate axially of the spindle 3 in opposition to the thrust of thesprings 15 and 16 which disengages the detents 7, 7 from the stops 11 on the lock plate 9. As soon as this disengagement has been eifected, the switch plate 4 responds to the rotative stress imposed thereon by spring 15 or 16 according to the direction the spindle is turned, and executes a rapid partial rotation, thereby separating contacts 5, 5 from the spring contacts 20 and 22. movement of the switch plate being continued through one quarter of a revolution until the detents 7, 7

-necessary that the switch members, so that to efiect eitherthe' opening or closing of the switch, it is only switch plate rotate through an angle of 90, and to bring-about this result, it is necessary only toturn the spindle until the dog 12 carried thereby engages the cam lugs or bosses 7 on the switch plate and passes behind the same so as to lift the switch plate out of locking engagement with the locking plate, when the necessary throw of the switch plate through a quarter revolution is automaticall efiected by the action of the springs 15 an 16.

What I claim is 1. A snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary switch plate having detents.

thereon, fixed contacts cooperating therewith, a stationary plate having fixed stop cooperating with said detents, a rotary spin-' dle, spring mechanism connecting the spin- I dle and thcswitch plateyand means on said spindle to move the switch plate out of engagement with the stationary plate when said spindle is partially rotated in either direction.

2. A snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary'switch plate having detents thereon, fixed contacts cooperating therewith, a stationary plate havin' fixed stops spaced at angles of 90 abnut t e periphery thereof and cooperating with said detents, a rotary spindle, sprin mechanism connectingthe spindle and t e switch plate, and means on said spindle to move the switch plate out of engagement with the stationary plate when said spindle is partially rotated in either direction.

3. A snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary switch plate having detents and bosses thereon, fixed contacts cooperating with said switch plate, a stationary plate having fixed stops cooperating with the detents on the switch plate, a rotary spindle, spring mechanism connecting the spindle and switch plate, and a cam fixedon the .spindle to engage the bosses on the switch plate to release the latter from the stationary plate when the spindle is partially rotated in either direction.

4. A-snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary switch plate having detents and bosses thereon, fixed contacts cooperating with said switch plates, a statlonary plate having fixed stops spaced at angles of 90 about the periphery thereof and cooperating with said detents, a rotary spindle, spring mechanism connecting the spindle and switch plate, and a cam fixed on the spindle to engage the bosses on .the switch plate to release the latter from the station-.

cooperating with said contacts and having detents thereon, spring mechanism connected to the spindle and to opposite sides of the switch-plate, a cam fixed on-the spindle, a stop plate fixed to said base having spaced peripheral fixed stops cooperating with the detents on the switch plate, and cooperating cam means on the switch plate adapted to be engaged b the cam on the spindle to move said switc plate axially of the shaft and unlock the switch plate from the stop plate when the spindle is partially rotated in either direction.

6. A snap switch comprising an axially movable rotary switch plate having detents thereon, fixed contacts cooperating therewith, a stationary plate having fixed stops cooperating with said detents, a rotary spindle, oppositely tensioned spiral springs connecting the spindle to opposite sides of the switch plate, and means on said spindle to with the stationary plate when said spindle is partially rotated in either direction.

7. A snap-switch comprising a base, a rotatable spindle mounted thereon, spaced contacts carried by the base, an axially movable switch plate loosely mounted on the spi dle cooperating with said contacts and ha ing detents thereon,and oppositely tensioned spiral springs connecting the spindle to opposite sides of the switch plate, a stop plate fixed to said base having spaced peripheral fixed stops cooperating with the detents on the switch plate, and cooperating cam means on the spindle and switch plate to move the latter axially of the switch and unlock the switch plate from the stop plate when said spindle is partially rotated in either direction.

NORMAN W. NUTT. Witnesses:

W. I. PEAoocK, JOHN R. D. Bowen.

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