US2681395A - Control switch for head lamps and other devices - Google Patents

Description

June 15, 1954 MALONE 2,681,395

CONTROL SWITCH FOR HEAD LAMPS AND OTHER DEVICES Filed Sept. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIGJ FIG. 2 FIG. 3

l N V E N TO R Mme)" IJ/a/Qrze ATTOR June 15, 1954 MALONE 2,681,395

CONTROL SWITCH FOR HEAD LAMPS AND OTHER DEVICES Filed Sept. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Amer 1 /141227! ATTORN June 15, 1954 H, F. MALONE ,681

CONTROL SWITCH FOR HEAD LAMPS AND OTHER DEVICES Filed Sept. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.I4 FIGJS 3 FIG. 20

IN VEN TOR. Mmev' F J//am' J MZK ATT EYS June 15, 1954 H. F. MALONE 2,681,395 CONTROL SWITCH FOR HEAD LAMPS AND OTHER DEVICES Filed Sept. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q5 fl 117 120 SECOND ON POSITION INVENTOR. fiamar I M ATTO Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED SATENT OFFICE CONTROL SWITCH FOR HEAD LAMPS AND OTHER DEVICES Homer F. Malone, Millburn, N. .L, assignor to The Wilcolator Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of Delaware 18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in control switches for vehicle headlights and other electrical systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a rotary electric'switch which includes means for protecting vehicle headlights from current overloads.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved rotary headlight switch for vehicles in which the individual headlight, tail light, parking light, and other light circuits are protected by circuit breakers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch construction in which relatively simple parts are utilized which can be readily and quickly assembled.

Accordingly, the improved rotary electric switch of the present invention comprises a base member of insulating material having a plurality of contacts arranged on the front of the base member and electrically connected through the base, as for example, by means of rivets, to corresponding terminals mounted on or in the back of the base to which the wires of the vehice lighting system, accessories and a wire from the current source are connected.

In one form of construction a metal plate is mounted on the front of the base member in fixed position over the contact connected to the power source and this plate carries a bimetal blade electrically connected thereto and having a movable contact normally engaging the contact over which the plate is mounted. A rotatable metal plate is mounted over the fixed metal plate an electrically connected thereto. rhese plates may be circular or dish shaped with their rims engaging each other. A. plurality of bimetal blades are fixed to the back of the rotatable metal plate, each having a movable contact normally biased toward the front of the base member and adapted to engage selected ones of the contacts mounted on the front of the base member upon rotation of the rotatable metal plate.

This form of the switch advantageously includes a casing or cover provided v ith an axially arranged shaft and which is attached to the base member over the metal plates referred to above. The shaft inside the casing is arranged to rotate one or more driving members, for example a driving disc of insulating material which is keyed to the rotatable metal plate.

In a somewhat more simplified form of construction, the fixed and rotatable metal plates are eliminated and a singe bimetal blade is mounted in the base member in fixed position and provided with a connection for the supply of ourrent to the switch. The base member, which is made of insulating material, also includes contacts in the front of the base connected to terminals arranged at the back of the base for connection to the various lighting circuits of the vehicle or accessories to which electric current is to be supplied. In this construction, the bimetal blade has a movable contact normally connected to certain of the terminals at the back of the base member. A rotatable disc of insulating material is carried inside the body of the switch structure and provided with contacts adapted to engage the contacts at the front or" the base member. Connections are provided from the connector for the current source to a pair of bimetal blades carried on the rotatable disc and fixed thereto in a manner to protect the circuits made by its contacts. The rotatable disc is actuated by a driving member carried by a shaft extending through the front of the casing of the switch.

While in the two forms of constuction referred to means is provided for rotating a member carrying a pair of bimetal blades, it is to be understood that the rotatable plate or disc in the switch may carry a single bimetal blade, while a pair of fixed bimetal blades may be mounted in the base member for the switch.

I have found that the switch of the present invention has the advantage that each of the separate circuits are protected against overloading. For example, if the circuit to one set of lights, such as the tail lights, is grounded, there can be no danger of overheating the wiring and possible resultant fires because the circuit breaker opens and closes automatically and limits the current feeding into the ground to a value which the wire can safely carry. Thus it may be possible to have intermittent light through the faulty circuit and proceed cautiously until an opportunity for repair is afforded.

The detailed features of my invention are described hereinafter in connection with two illustrative embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are front, side and back elevational views of one form of switch constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 4 is an exploded elevational View showing the diiierent principal elements of the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View of the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 4;

Figs. 6 to are elevational views of different elements of the switch, as shown in Fig. 4, Figs. 6 to 9 being back views and Fig 10 a front View;

Figs. ll, 12, and 13 are elevational views showing different positions for the movable contacts and switch elements associated therewith, of the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 10;

Figs. 14, i5 and 16 are respectively front, side and back elevational views of a second form of switch constructed in accordance with the pres ent invention;

Fig. 17 is an exploded elevational view of the switch shown in Figs. 14, and 16, showing the different principal elements;

Figs. l8, l9 and 20 are elevational views respectively of the front and back of the rotary member of the switch and of the front of the base of the switch shown in Figs. 14 to 1.7;

Fig. 21 is a vertical sectional view through the switch shown in Figs. 14 to 20; and

Figs. 22, 23 and 24 are elevational views partly in section showing the different positions of the rotary member of the switch with respect to the base of the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 21.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the rotary switch therein shown comprises a metal cup-shaped cover 85 provided with an axially extending bushing It; threaded at its free end, as shown in Fig. 5, for receiving a nut by which the switch is mounted under a vehicle panel. The switch is operated by a shaft l! extending through the bushing 16. The cover i5 at its front includes radially extending projections forming internal detent slots It for receiving a detent boss if: carried on a spring detent member 20 staked to the inner end of the shaft IT. The peripheral portion of the cover 55 includes an enlarged cylindrical portion 2! providing a shoulder upon which the peripheral edge of a base 22 rests and on which it is retained by bentover tabs 23.

A metal. driving plate 24 is staked onto the inner end of the shaft ll, along with the spring detent member 212. at approximately the angular relationship shown in Fig. 6. The driving plate 24 is provided with pressed-out lugs 25, which engage in matching slots 26 (Fig. 7) of a driving disc 2?. The driving disc 21 is made of insulating material and bears against a rotatable dish-shaped metal plate 28 provided with pressedout projecting lugs 29 engaging in peripheral matching slots Eii of the driving disc 2? (Figs. 7 and 5). The plate 2%; on its side opposite the driving disc 2'! carries two bimetal blades 3! and 32 electrically connected to the plate 28 and mounted in fixed positions thereon by rivets 33, as shown in Fig. 8.

The base 22 is made of insulating material and includes a peripheral rim projection 34 which fits in the portion 2! of the cover it. The base 22 also includes a cylindrical wall section 35, which fits inside the cylindrical body portion of the cover :5, as shown in Fig. 5. The front portion of the base 22 is provided with an inside rectangulanshaped recess 36, shown in Figs. 5 and 10, the surface of which includes a contact 37 riveted to the base by a rivet 38 which also retains an accessory circuit A terminal 39. The back of the base 22 also carries terminals 4!, 42, and 33, respectively for H head lights, P parking lights and T tail lights, held respectively by rivets 44, 45, and 48 (Fig. 3), which extend through the insulating material of the base and terminate in contacts 6?, t8 and 49, respectively (Fig. 10). The rivet 45 is con- Cir nected by a metal jumper plate 513 with a rivet 5| (Fig. 3), extending through the material of the base 22 and terminating in a contact 52 (Fig. 10). The respective contacts referred to are shown more completely in Fig. 10, and it will be seen. from Figs. 5 and 10 that the contacts 41 to Q9, and 52 are mounted in raised sections of insulation 53, so that the surfaces of these contacts are above the main body of the base 22.

The rim of the cylindrical portion 35 of the base 22 is provided with diametrically opposite projections which serve as stops for limiting the rotary movement of the driving disc 21. The larger diameter portions of the disc 21 (Fig. 7) rest upon the rim of the cylindrical portion and the stops 54 are engaged by the surfaces 55 of the driving disc 21.

A dish-shaped metal plate 56 is mounted in the cylindrical portion 35 of the base 22 with its peripheral flange engaging the peripheral flange of the metal mounting plate 23 (Fig. 5).

The back of the metal plate facing the base 22, is shown in Fig. 9, from which it will be noted that it includes a pair of oblong-shaped openings El which fit over the correspondingly shaped pieces of insulation 53, shown in Fig. 10. A bimetal blade 58 is mounted on the back of the plate 56 by means of a rivet 59, and the plate as includes three openings 60 for receiving rivets ti for securing the plate 55 firmly to the base 2.2 and forcing the movable contact 58 of the bimetal blade 58 into engagement with the contact 3? in the manner shown in Fig. 5, it being noted that the bimetal blade 58 fits in the rectangular-shaped recess 36 in the base 122. The metal plate 5% is pressed from the back to provide two circular-shaped depressions which provide contact surfaces 62 and $3 in the same plane and are as the contacts 47, 48, 49, and 52.

The bimetal blades 3|, 32, and 58 are similar in construction and each includes a U-shaped slot 64 forming a tongue 65 extending from the end portion of the blade opposite the rivet, which secures it to the metal plate. The tongues carry contacts 66, 85 and 53', respectively. The legs of the bimetal blades are stiffened by oppositely arranged pressed-in elongated projections 6?, respectively on opposite sides of the mounting rivet and overlapping the curved end of the U-shaped slot 64. The blade is prestressed by the drawing in of the legs of the blade at the place where it is mounted by the mounting rivet. The stress in the blade forces its free end against or adjacent to the plate on which it is mounted, while the contact and tongue extend forward from the plane of the blade under normal temperature conditions. The mounting end of the bimetal blade is pressed out toward the back in drawing the legs in, so that the main body of the blade is spaced away from the mounting plate, except at the position of the rivet. When an overload of current flows through one of the blades, it becomes heated and bows in the opposite direction, so that the contact is snapped away from the fixed contact, 31 for example, and breaks the circuit.

The metal plate 55 may be held in fixed position in the base by the rivets 6!, so that the contact 58 of the bimetal blade 58 engages the contact 3'5, and/or by a terminal bolt 76 for supplying electric current to the switch, from the battery of the vehicle for example. The bolt 19 extends through a hole H in plate 56 and through the base 22 to which it is held by a lock washer and nut I2. A second nut I3 is provided for connecting a battery terminal. Electric current supplied through bolt 10 to the plate 56 is distributed to the bimetal blade 58, to the rotatable metal plate 28 and to the bimetal blades 3i and 32. The contact E6 of the blade 3I is adapted to engage the contacts 4-9 and 52, which are spaced and insulated from the plate 56, and also the contact surface 63, while the contact 66 is adapted to engage the contacts 4? and 48 and also the contact surface 62.

Figs. ll, 12, and 13 show three different positions of the driving disc 21 and the driven rotatable plate 28 with respect to the contacts shown in Fig. 1d and the contact surfaces 52 and 63 shown in Figs. 5 and 9. In Fig. 13 the contacts 5% and '35 of the bimetal blades 34 and 32 are out of engagement with any of the contacts shown in Fig. 10, but they are resting on the pressed-out contact surfaces 63 and 62, respectively of the plate 56, so that no current is flowing through blades 3! and 32. This is the OE position of the switch, and under this condition, the bimetal blade 53 protects the accessory circuit or circuits.

If the shaft ii is rotated one step in a clockwise direction to the second or first on position, the respective positions of the bimetal blades 3! and 32 and their contacts are as shown in Fig. 12. the blade 3i supplies current to the contact 52, while the contact 65 supplies current to the corn tact 33, the respective terminals 43 and 42 of these contacts being connected to the tail lights and the parking lights, respectively of the vehicle. Contact 52 is connected to the terminal 43 by the jumper plate 58. The further rotation of the plate 23 in a clockwise direction to the third position moves it to the position shown in Fig. 11, in which the contact 65 of the bimetal blade 3| engages the contact 49, while the contact 66 of the bimetal plate 32 engages the contact 41. Since the contacts 49 and 52 are interconnected by the metal jumper 50, the contact 49 and terminal 4 connected therewith continue the supply of current to the tail lights of the automobile or other vehicle. Current supplied to the contact iI is sent to the terminal 4| and to the "high or driving lights of the vehicle.

In constructing the switch, the contacts 41, 48, 49, 52 and the contact surfaces 62 and 63 are arranged in a circular arc, the center of which is constant with the axis of the switch and the axis of the rotatable plate 23. The bimetal blades 3i and 32 are fixed to the plate 28, so that their contacts 55 and 65' are on the same circular arc as that of the contacts referred to above, and positioned so that the contacts '66 and 66 engage predetermined fixed contacts at a given rotated position of the plate 23.

While the plate 28 is shown as substantially dished with the bimetal blades 3| and 32 mounted thereon, this plate may be substantially a flat disc with its rim engaging the rim of the metal plate 55. In any case, sufficient space should be provided between these plates to accommodate movement of the bimetal blades 3! and 32, or at least the plate 28 should be arranged the necessary distance away from the contacts 4?, 48, .49 and 52 to permit of this movement. With the plates arranged as shown in Fig. 5, the peripheral flanges engage each other and provide ample bearing surfaces which contribute to the ease of rotation of the plate 28. The flanges of the plates 28 and 56 are held in matching relation In this position, the contact 65 of i to each other by the surrounding cylindrical portion 35 of the base member 22.

The modified form of switch shown in Figs. 14 to 24 is in many respects similar to the form of switch described above, particularly with respect to the switch casing and the use of three bimetal blades as circuit breakers. Referring to Figs. 14 to 17 and 21, it will be noted that this modified form of switch construction includes a metal cup-shaped cover IIJI carrying an axially forwardly-extending bushing Hi2 threaded at its free end for receiving a nut by which the switch is mounted on or behind the vehicle dashboard or panel. The switch is operated by a shaft H33 extending through the bushing I32 and is staked to a metal driving member Hi4 inside the casing, such driving member being provided with end projections I 05 and I06 of different widths for driving a rotatable switch member Id! of insulating material provided with matching slots I08 and 69 for respectively receiving the projections Ill-5 and I96 of the driving member.

The front of the casing IliI includes radiallyextending projections pressed out from the front of the casing and forming detent slots I It on the inside arranged to receive detent bosses III pressed out on the ends of the driving member I94. The switch has three positions determined by the three detent slots H0 on opposite sides of the bushing I02. The peripheral portion of the cover [0| includes an enlarged cylindrical portion I I2 at the back providing a shoulder upon which the peripheral edge of a base member H3 is adapted to rest and on which it is retained by bent-over tabs I I2 carried by the cover.

The base member H3 is made up of insulating material including the annular projection which fits in the cylindrical portion I I2 of the cover In I. The base member also includes a cylindrical wall section H4, as shown in Figs. 17 and 21. This wall section fits inside the cylindrical body of thecover IIJI and its front edge faces the adjacent peripheral portion of the rotatable member I07. The inside portion of the base member H3 includes a substantially symmetrically arranged rectangular-shaped recess I I5, in which is mounted a metal plate IIIi having a backwardly-bent, forked end II'I (Fig. 21) engaged by the head H8 of a current supply terminal bolt H9 extending through the base I I3 toward the back and tightly secured thereto by means of a nut I2I bearing on a metal washer I20. A second nut 122 is provided on the terminal bolt II9 for retaining a current lead to the battery of a car or other vehicle.

The metal plate I I6, as shown in Fig. 21 extends forwardly at the top of the recess H5 and upwardly inside the base member to provide a contact sector I23 having the arcuate contour surface shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24.

A bimetal circuit-breaker blade I24 is mounted in the recess H5 and riveted to the metal plate H6 by a rivet I25 extending through the body of the blade adjacent the end of the tongue of the blade, the back side of the end of the tongue carrying a contact I26 which normally engages a contact rivet I2'I extending through the base member I I3 and through a metal jumper plate I28 on the back of the base member to which the rivet is electrically connected.

The metal jumper plate I28 has the contour shown in Fig. 16 and is electrically connected by rivets I28 to three terminal receptacles A for electrical connection to accessories or auxiliary electric equipment associated with the vehicle such as a radio, a heater, cigarette lighter, etc.

The various terminal receptacles shown in Fig. 16 for the various lighting and accessory circuits are all of the same construction as illustrated in Fig. 21, in which the rivet I29 is connected to one of the receptacles A comprising spring plates I30 and iii extending through the back of the base I it and forming a female terminal for receiving a rectangular-shaped male terminal which is attached to the connecting wire leading to a particular light fixture or accessory. The metal plate i3I is of spring metal and has a bent-over portion on the back of the base H3 extending over a portion of the opening in the base. Referring to Fig. 16, the remaining terminal receptacles at the back of the base member H3 include a receptacle H. for the head lamp of the vehicle connected to a rivet 53.2 forming a contact I33 on the inside of thebase, as shown in Fig. 20, a terminal receptacle P, for the parking lights of a vehicle connected to a rivet Hi l which terminates in a contact 135 on the inside of the base member, this rivet also being connected by a metal jumper plate i363 and a rivet I31 to a terminal receptacle 1G for the lamp for an ignition key-operated switch, and terminal re ceptacles T and I respectively for the tail lights and the instrument lights of the vehicle connected by rivets i353 and I39 to a metal jumper plate Hit, the rivets terminating respectively in contacts ME and 542 (Fig. 20). The T and I receptacles are energized when either of the contacts It! or 42 are engaged because of the connecting jumper plate Hill.

All of the rivets in the base member I13 outside of the rectangul.ar--shaped recess H5. with the exception of the rivets forming contacts I33, 135, I44 and 142, are recessed in the inside surface of the base member and covered by a spacer disc MS of insulating material shown in Figs. 20 and 21, this disc having a rectangular recess matching the recess I I5 and having round holes accommodating said contacts which are flush with the front surface of the disc. The spacer disc i 33 extends under the contact sector I23, as shown in Fig. 21. The contacts I33, I35, MI and M2 are arranged in spaced relation on a circular arc concentric with the base member so that they may be selectively engaged by a pair of contacts carried by the rotatable switch member Hi1.

The rotatable switch member I97 shown in Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 21 comprises a disc of insulating material having a peripheral edge portion I 44 (Fig. 21) loosely fitting inside the cover or casing Ill! and facing and slightly spaced from the front peripheral edge of the cylindrical wall H4. A portion of. the body of the member I51 fits slight- 1y inside the wall I I4, as shown in Fig. 21, except for a pair of angularly-spaced stops I45 and I d6 which operate in recesses It! and M8 respectively in the front edge of the cylindrical wall I I4, such recesses being separated by a portion ofthis wall forming a stop Hi9 (Figs. 21 to 2 4).

The back face of the member I01 includes a metal conductor plate I53 having a rearwardlybent arm portion carrying a backwardly-facing contact iiiI engaging the contact plate I23, as shown in Fig. 21. The plate I5il is riveted to the member it! by means of a pair of rivets I52 which also serve to mount on the plate a pair of bimetal blades I53 and I54. The rivets I52 extend through the blades opposite the end of their tongues fix, and electrically connect the blades to the plate I50. The ends of the tongues of the blades I53 and I54 carry contacts I55 on their under side which respectively engage the heads of contact rivets I55 (Fig. 18) extending through the member I01 and respectively connected to the ends of metal jumper plates I51 and I58 mounted on the front of the member I51. The opposite ends of these jumper plates are electrically connected to retaining rivets extending through the member 161 and having contact heads I59 and IE9, respectively projecting from the back of the member Ill! to approximately the level of the contact I5I, as indicated in Fig. 21. When the member I6? is assembled in the position shown in Fig. 21, the contact I 5i is adapted to operate on the contact plate I23, while the contact I59 is adapted to engage contacts MI and M2 and contact H50 is adapted to engage contacts E33 and I35.

In assembling the elements of the switch shown in Figs. 14 to 17 and 21, the member ID! is arranged in its proper position with respect to the member I I3 by having the stops iii": and I45 on the opposite sides of the stop I 59. The members Hi5 and idfi of the driver 50 i are inserted respectively in slots I88 and Hit, after inserting a compression spring I65 in a recess Itfi in the front of the member I01. The end of the shaft I63 is then inserted in bushing i152 and the four assembled elements to the right in Fig. 1'? are inserted as a body in the casing I ill with the indentation I55 in the rim of the member II 3 rotated to a position where it fits around the pressed-in portion I64 (Fig. 16) in the rim H2 of the casing IiII.

When the elements of the switch are pressed tightly together, the tabs I12 are bent over around the peripheral edge of the back portion I I3 in the manner shown in Fig. 21. In this position, the spring IEI will be under compression, as shown in Fig. 21 and thereby insure firm engagement between the contact :55 and the plate I23, and the contacts I59 and I 58 with their cooperating contacts in the base member I E3. The member IIl'i includes on its forward surface projections I63 respectively on opposite sides of the recess I62 for preventing engagement of the metal driving member I54 with either of the metal jumper plates I51 and I58. The elements of the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 13 are assembled and oriented with respect to each other in the same manner.

The switch shown in Figs. 14 to 24 has three operative positions corresponding to the three detent recesses iii! on opposite sides of the axis of the front of the casing Iili. The relative positions of the members I01 and M3 for these three positions are shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24:, in which the stops I45 and I46, the contacts I55, I59 and I69, and the driving projections H35 and IIJB of the member IH'I are all shown in section. Fig. 24 shows the switch with the rotatable mem her It! rotated as far as possible counterclockwise to the ofi position with the stop Hi5 engaging the stop I49. In this position, the contact I5I engages the plate I23 but the contacts 559 and I6!) are in engagement with the spacer disc I43.

The first on position. of the switch is obtained by rotating member ID? one step clockwise, the stop I46 being moved away from the stop it, as shown in Fig. 22, at which position the contacts I59 and I58 respectively engage the contacts M2 and I35 so that circuits will be completed between battery and terminal P, battery and 9 terminal IG, battery and terminal T, and battery and terminal I.

In the second clockwise on position of the switch, as shown in Fig. 23, the stop M5 engages the stop I49, so that contacts 253 and ifiil engage contacts It! and I33 respectively. In all positions of the switch, the contact l-5i remains in engagement with the metal contact sector 923 In this second on position, circuits are com: pleted between battery and H, battery and '2', and battery and I. In other words, the head and tail lamps of the vehicle are energized as well as the instrument lamps.

The circuits through the three terminal 15 ceptacles A are not ail'ected by the rotation of the member N11, since these circuits are connected directly to the terminal post H9 through the bimetal circuit breaker blade 125. If either of these circuits should become overheated, this bimetal blade will become heated also and break ccnnection between contacts I26 and iii, thereby providing protection for all three of these circuits and the devices associated therewith. Separate bimetal blades may be provided in the base member for the accessory terminals A, and two or more of such blades and terminals may be provided. The bimetal circuit breaker blades Q53 and Hi l protect the circuits connected by contacts [5t and 168 in a similar manner. These bimetal blades as well as the bimetal blade or blades 12 3 have a construction similar to that indicated in Fig. 8 for the blades 3| and 32, and have the same function.

The switch illustrated in Figs. 1 to 13 provides a construction in which all of the lighting and other circuits of the vehicle are protected individually or in groups by the bimetal blades 3!, 32 and 58. In the modified construction shown in Figs. is to 24, all of the circuits are protected in the same way by bimetal circuit breakers, the three circuit breakers being arranged in parallel and two of them, as in the switch of Figs. 1 to 13, are carried by a rotatable switch member for protecting different circuits or groups of circuits connected-up through the output terminals on rotation of the rotatable switch member to different on positions.

While two or more bimetal blades are preferably mounted on the rotatable switch member,

it is to be understood that instead of providing two or a plurality of circuit breakers on the rotatable switch members, a single circuit breaker may be provided thereon and two or more circuit breakers ma be mounted in parallel fixed positions on the fixed base member of the switch. In such a construction, the bimetal circuit breaker mounted on the rotatable member may be arranged for parallel connection with the others, and means provided on the rotatable member for selectively closing a circuit through one or both of the circuit breakers carried in fixed position on the base member.

With respect to the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 14 to 21, the arrangement of parts may be reversed. with. respect to the fixed base member lit and the rotatable member Hi7. In other words, the rotatable member may carry one circiut breaker, connectable to one or more light circuits by rotation to two or more on positions, while the base member may carry a pair of circuit breakers, one being connected directly in the accessory circuit or circuits and the other being connectable through the rotatable member to one or more light circuits when the rotatable member is rotated from off' to one or more on positions. Other modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the switch without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

While the rotary switch of the present invention is particularly adapted for controlling and protecting the lighting and other circuits of a motor vehicle, it may be used to advantage for other purposes.

What I claim is:

1. A rotary electric switch including a base member of insulating material, a plurality of current outlet terminals and a current supply terminal connected into the back of the base member, a contact mounted on the front of said base member for each of at least some of said outlet terminals and connected thereto, a metal plate mounted in the front of said base member out of direct contact with an of said contacts, said current supply terminal being electrically connected to said metal plate, a bimetal blade electrically connected in fixed position to said metal plate and having a movable contact normally engaging one of said contacts connected to an outlet terminal, said metal plate being fixed to said base member, a rotatable switch member mounted over said fixed metal plate and having an electrical connection thereto, a plurality of bimetal blades fixed to the back of said rotatable member each having a movable contact, means for electrically connecting the contacts of said plurality of bimetal blades to selected ones of the other contacts on the front of the base member upon rotation of the rotatable switch memher, and means for driving said rotatable switch member to effect its rotation, each of said bimetal blades being defiectable to disengage its movable contact when the current load conducted by the bimetal blade exceeds a predetermined value.

2. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 1, in which the rotatable metal plate is circular and rotatable on its axis, the plurality of contacts except for the contact under the fixed metal plate arranged in an arc concentric with respect to the axis of the rotatable plate, and the movable contacts of the plurality of bimetal blades being arranged in the same are as that of said plurality of contacts.

3. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 2, in which the fixed metal plate includes a pair of spaced contact projections having surfaces in the same plane and in the same are as those of said plurality of contacts, said contact projections being adapted for engagement by the movable contacts of two bimetallic blades of said plurality of blades when the switch is in the oil position.

i. An electric switch including a base member of insulating material, a plurality of electric current output terminals and a current supply terminal connected into the back or the base member, a contact at the front or" said base member for each of at least some of said current outlet terminals and connected thereto, a rotatable switch member mounted for rotation in front of the base member, a bimetal blade mounted in fixed position with respect to the base member and having a movable contact normally engaging one of said contacts connected to one of said output terminals, a plurality of bimetal blades mounted between said members one at least of which is fixed to the back of said rotatable member, each of said plurality of blades having a movable contact, means for electrically connecting the movable contacts of said plurality of bimetal blades to selected ones of the other contacts at the front of the base member upon rotation of the rotatable switch member, means providing an electrical connection from said current supply terminal to said fixed bimetal blade and said plurality of bimetal blades, and means for driving said rotatable switch member to effect its rotation, each of said bimetal blades being defiectable to disengage its movable contact when the current load conducted by the bimetal blade exceeds a predetermined value.

5. An electric switch including a base member of insulating material, a plurality of electric output terminals connected into the back of the base member, contacts at the front of said base member electrically connected to said terminals, a rotatable switch member mounted for rotation in front of the base member, a current supply terminal connected into the back of the base member, a bimetal circuit breaker blade mounted in fixed position with respect to the base member and having a movable contact normally engaging one of said contacts, means carried by said rotatable member including a plurality of contacts arranged to cooperate with the other contacts of the base member to provide a plurality of circuits when the rotatable switch member is rotated, a bimetal circuit breaker blade arranged in each of said circuits at least one blade of which is fixed to said rotatable member, means for electrically connecting each of said bimetal circuit breaker blades to said current supply treminal, and means for driving said rotatable switch member to effect its rotation, each of said bimetal blades being defiectable to break the circuit protected thereby when the current load conducted by the bimetal blade exceeds a predetermined value.

6. A rotary electric switch including a base member of insulating material, a plurality of current output terminals mounted on the back of the base member, a contact mounted on the front of said base member for each terminal and connected thereto, a metal plate mounted on the front of said base member over one of said contacts in spaced relation thereto, a bimetal blade electrically connected in fixed position on the back of said metal plate and having a movable contact normally engaging the contact over which said plate is mounted, said metal plate being fixed to said base member, a current supply terminal connected into the back of said base member and electrically connected to said metal plate, a rotatable metal plate mounted over said fixed metal plate and electrically connected thereto, a plurality of bimetal blades fixed to the back of said rotatable metal plate each having a movable contact normally biased toward the front of the base member, the contacts of said plurality of bimetal blades being arranged to engage selected ones of the contacts mounted on the front of the base member upon rotation of the rotatable metal plate, and means for driving said rotatable metal plate to effect its rotation, each of said bimetal blades being defiectable to disengage its movable contact when the current load conducted by the bimetal blade exceeds a predetermined value.

'7. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 6, in which the means for driving the rotatable metal plate comprises a disc of insulating material having a surface engaging the front surface of the rotatable plate, and means for keying the disc to the rotatable plate to prevent relative rotation.

8. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 6, in which the means for driving the rotatable metal plate includes a disc of insulating material keyed thereto, a driving plate engaging said disc, and a shaft fixed to the driving plate.

9. A rotary electric switch including a cylindrical base member of insulating material having a back wall, a plurality of current outlet terminals mounted on the back of said wall, a contact mounted on the front of said wall for each terminal and connected thereto, said contacts being within the cylindrical portion of the base, a circular-shaped metal plate mounted on the front of said base member and fixed thereto over one of said contacts and in spaced relation to the contact, a bimetal blade electrically connected in fixed position on the back of said metal plate and having a movable contact normally engaging the contact over which said plate is mounted, said metal plate having openings through which the remaining contacts extend in spaced relation, a current supply terminal connected into the back of the base member and electrically connected to said metal plate, a circular-shaped rotatable metal plate mounted over said fixed metal plate, said metal plates engaging each other rim-to-rim within the cylindrical portion of the base member, a plurality of bimetal blades fixed to the back of said rotatable metal plate each having a movable contact normally biased toward the front of the base member, the contacts of said plurality of bimetal blades being arranged to engage selected ones of the contacts mounted on the front of the base member upon rotation of the rotatable metal plate, and means for driving said rotatable metal plate to effect its rotation, each of said bimetal blades being deflectable to disengage its movable contact when the current load conducted by the bimetal blade exceeds a predetermined value.

10. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 9, in which said remaining contacts are arranged in an arc concentric With the axis of said rotatable metal plate, and in which the movable contacts of the plurality of bimetal blades are arranged in the same are as said remaining contacts.

11. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 10, including a pair of spaced contact projections on said fixed metal plate arranged in the arc of said remaining contacts, said contact projections having contact surfaces in the same plane as that of the surfaces of said remaining contacts, said contact projections being arranged for engagement by movable contacts of the plurality of bimetal blades when the switch is in its off position.

12. A rotary electric switch including a base member of insulating material, a plurality of output terminals extending into the back of the base member, a contact at the front of said base member for each of at least some of said terminals and connected respectively thereto, a current supply terminal connected into the back of said base member, a bimetal blade electrically connected to said supply terminal mounted in fixed position with respect to the base member and having a movable contact normally engaging one of said contacts, a rotatable switch member mounted for rotation in front of said base member, a plurality of bimetal blades fixed to the back of said rotatable member each having a movable contact and being electrically connected to said current supply terminal, means for electrically connecting the contacts of said plurality of bimetal blades to selected ones of the other contacts at the front of the base member upon rotation of the rotatable switch member, and means for driving said rotatable switch member to effect its rotation, each of said bimetal blades being defiectable to disengage its movable contact when the current load conducted by the bimetal blade exceeds a predetermined value.

13. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 12, including a metal contact plate at the front of the base member electrically connected to the current supply terminal, and electrical connector means connected to the bimetal blades mounted on the rotatable member including a contact engaging said contact plate for electrically connecting the said bimetal blades to the current supply terminal,

14. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 13, in which the bimetal blade mounted in fixed position with respect to the base member is fixed to said contact plate.

15. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 12, in which the means for electrically connecting the movable contacts of said plurality of bimetal blades to selected ones of the other contacts on the front of the base member comprises a contact on the back of the rotatable member for each of said plurality of bimetal blades and electrically connected to the movable contact thereof.

16. A rotary electric switch as claimedin claim 12, in which each output terminal comprises a pair of metal plates mounted in a recess in the back of the base member, one of which is of spring metal and is biased toward the other plate of the terminal.

17. A rotary electric switch as claimed in claim 12, having an oil position and first and second on positions, stop means on the base member and a pair of stop means on the rotatable member cooperating on opposite sides of said firstmentioned stop means, one of the stop means on the rotatable member engaging the stop means on the base member when the rotatable member is in the off position of the switch, and means for rotating the rotatable member to a first on position and a second on position for the 1 switch, said second stop member on the rotatable member being in engagement with the stop member on the base member when the switch is in its second on position.

18. A rotary electric switch including a cylindrical base member of insulating material, a plurality of current output terminals extending into the back of the base member, a contact at the front of said base member for each of at least some of said terminals and connected respectively thereto, said contacts being arranged in an are about the axis of the base member, a current supply terminal connected into the back of said base member, a metal contact plate at the front of the base member angularly spaced with respect to said contacts, and connected to said current supply terminal, a bimetal blade electrically connected to and mounted in fixed position on a portion of said metal contact plate inwardly of its peripheral portion and having a movable contact facing toward the back of the switch, a fixed contact connected to at least one of said output terminals and normally engaged by said movable contact, a rotatable switch member of insulating material mounted for retation in front of said base member, a metal plate fixed to the back of said rotatable member and having a contact engaging said contact plate, a plurality of bimetal blades fixed to the back of said metal plate on said rotatable member each having a movable contact facing toward the front of the switch, fixed contacts respectively engaged by the movable contacts of said plurality of bimetal blades, fixed contacts on the back of said rotatable member respectively electrically connected to said fixed contacts engaged by the movable contacts of said plurality of bimetal blades, said fixed contacts on the back of said rotatable member being positioned to respectively engage selected ones of the plurality of contacts at the front of the base member upon rotation of the rotatable switch member to selected positions, and means for driving said rotatable switch member to effect its rotation, each of said bimetal blades being defiectable to disengage its movable contact when the current load conducted by the bimetal blade exceeds a predetermined value.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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