US1605681A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

I Nov. 2 1926.

' 1,605,681 I G.v J. MEUER ELECTRIC sw'ITcH L FiledJune 1, 1920 lll ia will now be described Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

y UNITED STATES PATENTo F F I C E GEORGE J'. MEUER, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR '.10 THE GUTLER-HAM- MER MFG. CO., F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

'Application med rune i, 1920. seriai no. 385,628.

This invention relates to improvements in electric snap switches.

An object of the invention is to provide a snap switch of simple, rugged and durable construction which may be advantageously use-d in various relations.

'Another object is to provide a .switch of the aforesaid character which is particularly adapted to installation in vacuum cleaner lo handles and the like. u l

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates certain embodiments of the invention which it being underst-ood that the embodiments illustrated are susceptible of various modifications without departing from the sc pe of the appended claims. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing .a switch mechanism7 an insulating sleeve therefor and a casing for concealed mount- Y-ing thereof. to Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the aforesaid elements in assembled relation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 oit Fig. 2.

Figs. d and 5 are detail fragmentary views of the stationary contacts shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is 'a longitudinal-sectional view of r. modified form of switch mechanism, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional View substantially on line 7-'7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing the same shows a unitary snap switch mechanism 1 to be enclosed in an insulating sleeve 2 and to be secured by screws 3 within a tube 4; which may be assumed to comprise a section of a tool handle.

The switch mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a circular operating memb er 5, an oscillating contactor 6 and stationary contacts 7, sai-d contactor 6 being supported on a frame 8 into which screws 3 are adapted to thread forsecurement of the switch mechanism within tube 4i. rlhe frame 8 has downwardly and inwardl projecting end extensions 9 and has secure to opposite sides thereof insulating plates 11 porting stationary contacts '7, said plates being secured to frame 8 by rivet lugs 12 provided on opposite sides ofr extensions 9.

f A'llhe operating member 5 is pivotally for supmounted on a pin 13 and the upper wall of frame 8 is slotted to receive said member and is also yprovided with upwardly struck portions 14.- and downwardly 'struck portions 15 to provide bearings for said pin. perating member 5 is provided with a slot 16. to receive contactorV 6 and said contacter comprises a flat stamping having its upper end pivotallysecured to said operating member by a pin 17 at a point below pivot pin 13 and Ihaving its lower end provided with an insulated contact block 18. llhe contactor 6 is thus free to oscillate about its pivot 17 and such pivot is shiftable longitudinally of frame 8 by reciprocatory movement of operating member 5.

Contacter 6 is provided with an opening adjacent its lower end to receive a helical spring 20 and said spring has its extremities looped over opposite ends of pin 13. Thus it will be observed that spring 13 serves to eect oscillation of contacter 6 with a snap action upon shifting of the pivot of sai contactor across the axis of said spring. lin this connection it is to be noted that the eX- tremities of extensions 9 form stops for the contactor and that in either extreme osition of the contacter the spring 20 ten s to move the operating member 5 toa corresponding extremeposition such movement being limited by engagement of the bottom 'surface of slot 16 with the side of the contactor 6.

The stationary contacts 7 are mounted on the inner faces of insulating plates 11 and are arranged to be bridged by contact block 18. is best shown in Figs. 4i and 5 each of the contacts 'l' comprises a relexed leaf spring secured to its respective insulating plate 11 by a hollow rivet 21. 'llhe rivet 21 is internally threaded to receive a binding screw 22 and has asquare head 23 on its inner end located between the redexed ends of Contact 7 and has its outer end riveted over on a terminal plate 211- located on the outer face of insulating' plate 11. The square head 23 prevents rotation of rivet 21 relative to Contact 7 and to prevent rotation of Contact? relative to insulating plate 11, contact is provided with an outwardly extending lug 25 passing through an opening in the insulating plate 11 and projecting into recess 26 in terminal plate 241.

The frame 8 being insulated from both the stationary and movable contacts renders MIU further insulation of the operating member 5 unnecessary and enables said frame to be secured to the tube or othersupport without insulation. Accordingly, the insulating 'are of such dimensions that the same can readilyY be inserted into the end of tube 4 for assembly thereof. lf desired, the periphery of the operatingmember 5 can be provided with on and off markings to be concealed selectively by the ends of slot 28 in opposite extreme positions of said member to indicate the position of contactor 6.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of switch mechanism includingl an operating member 30 which is slidably mounted on frame 8. The operating member 30 com prises a stamping which is U-shaped in cross section and is provided with a hump 31 on its 'upper edge to project through the aperture V28 in the tube 4. The upper face of frame 8 is slotted to receive the operating member 30 and the lowerportion of said member is provided with end portions 32 to bear on' end extensions 9 of said frame and with a downward projection 33 arranged to abut said extensions in extreme positions of the operating member. slotted at 34 to receive a pivot pin 35 of con-A tactor 6 and the extremities of spring 20 are Secured to lugs 36 on frame 8. The pin 35 is provided with heads on opposite ends thereof to bear on the under side of the top wall of frame 8 and as shown in Fig. 6 the slots 34 are inclined towards the left to facilitate bending of the middle portion of projections 33 around pin 35, to hold the operating member 30 in place.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A unitary switch comprising a frame. a pa" of insulating plates fixed to said fram in a substantially parallel relation, contacts mounted on the djacent inner faces of said plates, terminas for said contacts having wiring elements accessible ex-4 teriorly of said plates and a contactor and spring actuating means therefor, supported by said frame between said plates, said con'- tactor having its current carrying part insulated from said means and said frame and said means including a reciprocatory operating member projecting from said frame.

2. A unitary switch comprising a metallic Projections 33 are reoaeai frame, a pair of insulating plates fixed to said frame in a substantially parallel relation, contacts mounted on the adjacent inner faces of said plates, terminal screws for said contacts accessible exteriorly of said plates, a reciprocatory member mounted on said frame and projecting outwardly therefrom, a contactor oscillatably mounted on said member between said plates and having a current carrying part insulated from said member to bridge said contacts and a spring associated with said contactor for moving the same into and out of engagement with said contacts with a snap antrm' non reciprocation of said member.

3. The combination with a snap/ switch device having a projecting operating member, of an insulating. sleeve surrounding said device and providing spaced con'duc'tor passages between thesame and saidA device on opposite sides of the latter' and a tubular casing for receiving said device and said sleeve therewithin in assembled relation, said casing having a slot therein for receiving said operating. member.

4. rlhe combination with a unitary snap switch having a metallic supporting frame and a reciprocatory operating memberprojecting from said frame, of an insulating sleeve surrounding said switch mechanism but exposing said operating member and a portion of said frame and a tubular enclosing casing for said switch having a longi-v tudinally extending slot to'receive the actuating member thereof and means to co-operate with that portion of the frame of said switch exposed by said insulating sleeve for securement of said switch within said casing. y 5. The combination with a snap switch comprising a metallic supporting frame, a contactor and actuating'means thereforfcarried by saidy frame, insulating plates fixed to said frame on opposite sides of said contaeter, contactsy carried by said plates on the adjacent inner faces thereof, terminals for said contacts carried by said plates and accessible exteriorly thereof, of an insulating sleeve surroundino` said switch and forming with said insulating plates, conductor passages to said' terminals.

6. lihe combination with a snap switch comprising a metallic frame, a contactor and operating means therefor carried by said frame, saidrmeans including a reciprocatory operating member. projecting from said frame, insulating plates carried byy said frame onopposite sides of said contactor, contacts mounted on the inner adjacent faces .of said` plates and having terminals accessible exteriorly of said plates, of an insulating sleeve surrounding .said switch and forming vwith said plates conductor passages to said terminals, said sleeve having an opening through 'which said switch operating member projects and a tubular casing to iet I ian receive said switch and having a longitudinal slot lto receive' said switch operating 'member 7. A unitary 'frame, a pair of insulating plates fixed to said frame in a substantially parallel relajtion, contacts mounted on the adjacent inner faces of said plates, terminals for saidl contacts having wiring elements accessible exteriorly of said plates, a reciprocatory operating member mountedron said frame and projecting outwardly therefrom, a contactor having one end pivotally connected to l a said member and having at its opposite end y 'contacts mounted on said operating member and having at its' said contacts and a 'upon .reciprocation `operating member mounted and projecting outwardly therefrom, a con#` an insulated current spring to effect oscilla-g tion of said contacter with a snap action ber, said spring passing through an opening in said' contactor adjacent the contact end thereof and having its extremities fixed on opposite sides of said operating member.

8. A unitary lsnapv switch comprising a metallic frame having end members, a pair of insulating plates fixed to the -sides of. said frame in a substantially parallel relation, the inner faces of said plates, terminals forsaid contacts accessible exterior-ly of said plates, a reciprocatory on said frame tactor having one end pivotally securedto opposite end an insulated current switch comprising'a lmetallic carrying part to bridge 'ing outwardly of said operating mem- .ject ing outwardly` therefrom,

part for bridging said contacts, and a helical carrying sprmg passing through" an opening'in said contactor adjacent'its contact. end and having itsgextremitles fixed on opposlte sides of said member for .oscillating said contac'torl I with a snap action upon reciprocation of' having one end pivotally having at its opposite endgan member and insulated current carrying party to bridge said contacts, ande-a spring to effect oscillation of said contacter with a snap action upon predetermined movement of said operating member, -said spring passing through lan opening in said contactor adjacent the Contact end thereof and having its extremities'xed on opposite sides'of said operating member.

In witness Whereonl have; hereunto subscribed my name,

GEORGE JQ 45 fixed position with re- -spect to said frame, contacts mounted on said

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