US1650924A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 29, 1927.,

AALBORG ET AL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Junes, 1921 A?! 22 as WITNESSES:

ATT'oRNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN AALBORG, 0F PITTSBURGH, AND ORA. A. COLBY, 0E IRWIN, EENNS'YL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS 'IO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING CONE- IPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC SlVITCH.

Application filed June 3, 1921.

Our-invention relates to electric switches and particularly to means for mounting switches and the operating mechanisms therefor in co-operative relation. I

One object of our invention is to provide a construction wherein the parts of the switch proper and the actuating means therefor, may be so mounted in a housing as to be conveniently accessible for repairs or for the removal of portions thereof without disturbing other parts of the apparatus.

Another object of our invention is to provide a switch box of improved form for containing the apparatus.

Our invention is designed particularly for use in connection with motor-operated snap switches and consists of a peculiar arrangement of parts whereby they may be mounted within a relatively small housing and still be conveniently accessible for renewals or repairs.

As shown in the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an electric switch and a housing therefor embodying our invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of the device of Fig. 1.

The switch is mounted within a box or housing that consists of a body or base portion 3 that is provided with a hood or cover member 1. The switch box is provided with an opening that communicates with a conduit bushing 5 that is attached to the base portion 3 by screws 6. A sleeve-like lining member 7 is pressed into the opening referred to and has its inner end flared to provide a smooth surface against which cov ered wires may liewithout danger of damage to the insulating covering thereof. The base portion 3 is provided with perforated lugs 8 by means of which it may be bolted to a supporting structure. and with a numher of upstanding lugs 9 upon which a switch base member 9a may rest.

Stationary contact members 10, 11, 12 and 13 are secured to the switch base 9a and are adapted to be engaged by a bridging or movable contact member 15 which is rotatably supported upon a shaft 16 that is actuated by means of a spring 17. The spring is secured, at one of its ends, to the bridging member 15 and at its other end, to the shaft 16.

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Serial no. erases.

The shaft 16 is rotatably supported in the switch base 9 and is provided with a reduced extension 1% that extends into a recess in the base 3 of the switch box.

A. gear wheel 18 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 16 by means 01 a nut 19 that has screw threaded engagement with the portion 16a of the shaft 16. The gear wheel 18 is driven through a pinion 20 that is attached to a gear wheel 21 and the latter is driven by a pinion 22 that is attached to a 6 gear wheel 23. The gears and pinions 2021 and 2223 are supported by screws 24 and 25, respectively, that engage tapped recesses in the base member 3. V

The base member 8 of the casing is provided with bosses 28 and 2? to which a relatively high-speed motor 29 may be secured by means of screws 80 and 31.

The motor 29 is provided with an armature 511511 12 32 that carries a pinion 84. The motor may be of any type common to devices of this character and need not be described in detail.

When it is desired to operate the switch, the motor 29 is set in motion, thus driving the shaft 16 through the gears and pinions heretofore described. The rotation of the shaft 16, by reason of the high speed of the motor, quickly places the spring 17 under su'liicient tension to cause the bridging member 15 to breal: engagement with the stationary contact members with which it happens to be engaged, causing such bridging member to snap into engagement with the other pair of contact members.

The cover member 4 is provided with a channel-like member 35 oil insulating material that is secured thereto by means of rivets 37 and has depending sides that extend downwardly past the live switch parts to insulate such parts from the walls of the cover member 4 at points where they are adjacent to cover member. An insulating plate 36 serves to insulate the live switch parts from the motor and is held in place by means of the screws 31 that clamp the bent over portion thereof to the upstanding lugs 27 of the base 3.

The switch base is secured to base member 3 of the box by means oi? screws 40. The cover member l is held in place by nuts 41 that engage the threaded upper ends of bolts 31.

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It will be seen from the foregoing that, upon removal of the cover t and of the screws 40, the switch base 9 and the parts carried thereby may be removed without disturbing the pinion 20 and the gear 21 or any of the other parts oi: the apparatus. Similarly, by removal of the screws 30, the motor 29 and its pinion 34. may be removed without disturbing the gear 23 or any of the other portions of the switch.

Furthermore it will be apparent that various portions of the switch parts, such as either the movable or the stationary contact members, may be readily removed without disturbing the position of the switch in the box; that the live parts of the switch are insulated from adjacent metal parts that would otherwise affect the functioning of the switch, and that the parts occupy a minimum amount of space.

Various changes in detail and general arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, a switch box, a motor mounted therein and supported by the bottom of the box, a switch mounted therein independently of the motor and also supported by the bottom of the box and trans mission gearing located in the space beneath the motor and the switch, connecting the motor and the switch and so disposed as to permit removal of either the switch and the motor independently of each other.

2. In a switch structure, a bottom member, a cover member, a plurality of groups of supporting members mounted in the bottom member, a motor mounted on one of the groups of supporting members, a switch structure mounted on another group of supporting members and a gear train for connecting the motor with the switch structure, the gear train being disposed below the plane defined by the tops of the supporting members.

8. In a switch structure, an elongated bot; tom member, a cover member, a plurality of groups of supporting members mounted in the bottom member longitudinally thereof, a motor mounted on one oi the groups of sup porting members, a switch structure mounted on another group of supporting members and a gear train for connecting the motor with the switch structure, the gear train being disposed below the plane defined by the tops of the supporting members, whereby the motor and the switch structure may be removed independently of each other.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 26th day of May,

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. ORA. A. COLBY.

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