US3312925A

US3312925A - Electric switch apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3312925A
Application number: US320012A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frantz Nicholas
Original assignee: CARTER PRECISION ELECTRIC CO
Current assignee: CARTER PRECISION ELECTRIC CO
Priority date: 1963-10-30
Filing date: 1963-10-30
Publication date: 1967-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1984-04-04

Description

April 4, 1967 FRANTZ 3,312,925

ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. NICHOLAS FPANTZ BY QMM/J A 7 Tom/E rs April 4, 1967 N. FRANTZ 3,312,925

ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS Filed Oct. :50, 1965 l v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 V Winn/l INVENTOR. NICHOLAS FRANZ Z A TTOR/VFYS April 4, 1967 N. FRANTZ ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 30, 1963 INVENTOR. NICHULAS FPANTZ ATTORNEY? April 4, 1967 N. FRANTZ ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 50, 1963 o o o o 6 A 0 E 6 c F 234 R f z a W W H |||P0 l a 8 8 u g a IOIIIIOI.

INVENTOR. NICHOLA S FPANTZ United States Patent Ofitice 3,312,925 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 3,312,925 ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS Nicholas Frantz, Skokie, Ill., assignor to Carter Precision Electric Co., Skokie, Ill.,'a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 320,012 13 Claims. (Cl. 338-200) This invention relates to an improved electric switch apparatus.

Switches of the type to which this invention relates are usable in a variety of circuits, one of the most common of which is the windshield wiper control circuit in an automotive vehicle. Present switches for this purpose are complicated in circuitry and construction because the reversing portion of the switch, which returns the Wiper blades to the oif or park position, rotates continuously during rotation of the rheostat portion of the switch, which varies the amount of electrical resistance in series with the windshield wiper motor to vary the speed of the wiper motor. Also, present switches require an externally mounted thermo-type circuit breaker to protect the wiper motor against overloads or burn outs. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a switch of this type in which the rheostat operating portion of the switch operates independently of the reversing portion of the switch when the rheostat is in the circuit; the circuit breaker is incorporated directly in.the terminal insulator body which forms a portion of the switch apparatus; less torque is required to operate the switch apparatus, thereby enabling the application of greater pressure on the mating contacts to assure lower resistance between mating contact surfaces; the reversing switch portion is operated only over the first few degrees of rotation of the rheostat operating portion of the switch to obtain longer trouble-free operation of the switch; and an on-off type switch is incorporated directly in the switching apparatus to enable the operator, while controlling the wiper-motor, to also operate electrically controlled windshield washer pump apparatus; and in which a spring contact blade which is normally open is utilized to spring-load an actuating plunger which is operable against the spring loading to close the on-off switch that actuates the windshield washer pump. g A further object of this invention is to provide switching apparatus of the above-described type in which improved detent means is utilized for indicating switch positions, and in which a single spring is utilized for spring loading both the detent means and a contact strip in the apparatus. I

A further object of this invention is to provide switching apparatus of the above type in which spring-loaded contact blade assemblies are installed as sub-assemblies on the contact-carrying bodies, and in which the springs in the blade assembiies serve the double functions of holding the blades on the bodies and of applying pressure to the contacts during use of the apparatus.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide switching apparatus of the above type in which the rheostat is installed in a manner so as to minimize the heat problems normally associated therewith.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide switching apparatus which accomplishes the above purposes with a minimum number of parts which are easily assembled, which is subject to size change without affecting the assembly, and which is economical to manufacture and easy to operate over a prolonged service life.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, with some parts broken away and other parts shown in section for the purpose of clarity, of the switching apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the switching apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating moved positions of the switch control handle in broken lines;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view looking substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, and illustrating the movable switch contacts in positionscorresponding to an offf or park position of the switching apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the movable contacts in on positions in solid lines and in a rheostat operating position in broken lines;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views looking substantially along the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively in FIG. 3;

FIGURE 6A is a perspective view of one of the contact strips in the switch apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 7-is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the housing in the switching apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 7A is an enlarged sectional view looking substantially along the line 7A-7A in FIG. 7.and showing a fragmentary portion of the contact carrying body in assembly relation therewith;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view looking substantially along the line 8-8 in FIG. 1, with the insulator washer removed for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 9 is an end view of the terminal insulator body in the switching apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view looking substantially along the line 10-10 inFIG. 8; FIGURE 11 is a sectional view through the terminal insulator body in the switching apparatus of this invention showing the circuit breaker incorporated therein in its normal position in solid lines and in its overheated position in broken lines;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary view, illustrated similarly to FIG. 1, showing a modified form of the switching apparatus of this invention in which the washer pump portion of the apparatus is omitted;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view of the switching apparatus looking along line 13-13 in FIG. 1, showing the contact carrying bodies in park positions;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 13, showing the bodies in positions corresponding to switch on positions;

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIG. 8, with the insulator Washer added; p

FIGURE 16 is a circuit diagram illustrating thesw'itching apparatus of this invention installed in a vehicle windshield wiper circuit; and

FIGURE 17 is a View similar to FIG. 11 showing the on-off switch in the switching apparatus of this invention.

With reference to the drawing, the switching apparatus of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1 as including a housing 12 to which a supporting stem 14 is attached. The stem 14 has an externally threaded reduced diameter end portion 16 which extends through a mounting panel 18, for example a vehicle dashboard, and is secured thereto by a nut 20 threaded onto the portion 16 so as to clamp the panel 18 between the nut 20 and a shoulder 22 on the stem 14. The housing 12 includes a generally hollow cup-shape portion 24,

which may be conveniently die cast, and an insulator;

A plurality of terminals, indicated in FIGS. 9 and 16, as A, B, C, D, E,'F, and G, are mounted on the outer end of the insulator body 26, and are later explained in detail.

A shaft 30 is rotatably and slidably supported in an axial bore 31 in the stem 14 and is provided adjacent its inner end with a portion 32 which is flat on one side. At its inner end, the shaft 30 has a reduced diameter rounded end portion 34. A stop ring 36, installed on the shaft 30 intermediate its ends, is of a diameter such that it'engages the inner end of the stem 14 as shown in FIG. 1, to prevent retraction of the shaft 30 out of the housing 12 a distance greater than illustrated in full lines in FIG. 1. An actuating handle 38 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 30 and is operable, after the shaft 30 has been inserted in the bore 31 to a position in which st-opring 36 engages stem 14, to both rotate the shaft 32 and slide it inwardly to its broken line position indicated at W in FIG. 1 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

A contact-carrying element or member 40 (FIGS. 1, 3 and of which constitutes the rheostat operating portion of the apparatus 10, is of irregular shape and is formed of a dielectric material such as molded plastic. Element 40 has a flat sided opening 42 extended therethrough so that when the flat sided shaft portion 32 is positioned in the opening 42, the element 40 is rotatable with the shaft 30. A hub 41 on the element 40 projects 'into a corresponding shaped axial cavity 43 in the housing portion 24'so that a flat plate'portion 45 of element 40 is slidable on the flat inner surface of housing portion 24. The element 48 is rotatable with shaft (between a first position (FIG. l3), in which one side 49 of the plate portion engages a stop projection 51 on housing portion 24) through an angle of about 180 to a second position in which another side 53 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of portion 45 engages another stop projection 55 on housing portion 24 as shown in brokenlines in FIG. 4). .An outward extension 57 on plate portion 45 hasan end surface 59 (FIG. 5) and sides 61 which are substantially parallel and extend laterally at right angles from surface 59.

A contact strip 44 (FIGS. 5 and 6A), formed of a current conducting material such as copper or the like, is mounted on the extension 57. The strip 44 .is of substantially Ushape, having a base 47 and a pair of inwardly extending

legs

50 and 52 at the ends of the base 47 which is formed with outwardly extending

contacts

46 and 48. Each of the

legs

50 and 52 is formed with an elongated slot 54 through which a projection 56 on one of the sides 61 extends. The projections 56 have outer sides 56a which converge in a direction toward surface 59 to facilitate snapping of the

legs

50 and 52 over the projections 56.

An opening 58 in the element 40 terminates at its inner end in a ball seat and a ball 62, formed of a dielectric material such as a plastic material and preferably nylon, is seated on the seat 60. A coil spring 64, which is engaged at one end with the base 47 of contact strip 44 and at the other end with the ball 62, spring loads ball 62 and keeps

legs

50 and 52 in engagement with projections 56 to enable assembly of the contact strip 44 with the element 40 prior to installation of the element 40 in the switching apparatus 10. The ball 62 is first seated, the spring 64 is inserted in the opening 48, the contact strip 44 is positioned in engagement with the spring 64 and moved to a position depressing the spring 64 after which the

contact strip legs

50 and 52 are snapped over the projections 56. On release of the contact strip 44, the spring 64 urges the strip 44 outwardly to a position in which the

legs

50 and 52, at the inner ends of the slots 54, engage the projections 56. During use of the assembly, the spring 64 is depressed so that it functions to exert pressure on the

contact

46 and 48 and the ball 62, as shown .in FIG. 5. Projections 66 on the element 40 on opposite sides of one of the projections 56 are generally rot-ata'bly supported on a pin or shaft 70 which is formed integral with the housing surface 25 and projects into an opening 72 formed in the body 68 (FIG. 6). A flat plate portion 74 of body 68 is positioned against the Hat inner surface 25 of the housing portion 24, and has an tion.

integral detent or ballshaped projection 76 formed thereon. The body 68 is rotatable about the pin 70 between a first position, shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 13, in which the detent 76 is positioned in a teardrop-shape cavity 78 formed in the housing surface 25, and a second position,

illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 14, in which the detent 76 is I positioned in a second teardrop-shape cavity 80 in the surface 25.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the

cavities

78 and 80 are substantially connected by inclined ramps 82, which make the

cavities

78 and 80 of teardrop-shape, to insure against the detent 76 stalling at a position between the

cavities

78 and 80. In other words, once the detent 76 is moved out of one of the

cavities

78 and 80, the ramps 82 provide for movement of the detent 76 back into the same cavity or int-o the next cavity.

An extension 84 on the flat plate portion 74 overhangs the portion 74 and terminates at its outer end in a flat surface 86. A first pair of sides 88 (FIG. 3) are formed onthe body 68 so that they are substantially parallel and extend laterally of and at right angles to the surface 86, like the sides 61 on the element 48. A second pair of sides 91) (FIG. 6) are formed on the extension 84 so that they likewise extend at right angles to the surface 86 and are angularly related to the sides 88as shown in FIG. 3. A pair of contact strips 92 and 94, similar to the contact strip 44 previously ascribed, are assembled with the

sides

88 and 98, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3, in a manner identical to the manner in which the contact strip 44 is assembled with the sides 61 on the element 40. The strip 92 is formed with a pair of projections which form contacts 96 and 981and the strip 94 is similarly formed with

contacts

100 and 102. Since the

strips

92 and 94 are assembled with the body 68 in a manner identical to the manner in which the strip 44 is assembled with the element 40, only the assembly of the strip 94 is shown in detail in the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the strip 94 is of generally U-shapc and includes a base 104 and legs 106 which are'slotted and are snapped over projections 108 formed on the extension 84. A cavity 110 formed in the surface 86, has a spring 112 positioned therein and engaged with the base 104 of the contact strip 94 so as to urge the base 184 in a direction away from the body 68. A similar spring (not shown) urges the

contacts

96 and 98 on the strip 92 in the same direction.

The plate portion 49 in the element 40 is formed with a plurality of projecting gear teeth 114 (FIGS. 4, 13 and 14), illustrated as being three in number, and the plate portion 74 of the body 68 is similarly formed with a plurality of projecting gear teeth 116 illustrated as being four in number, which are of a size to mesh with the teeth 114. The

teeth

114 and 116 are positioned such that in the positions of the element 40 and the body 68 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 13, the teeth 114 and 1 16 are in meshing engagement. During rotation of the element 40 in a counterclockwise direction, from its position shown in FIGS. 3 and 13 to its solid line position shown in FIGS. 4 and 14, the engagement of the

teeth

114 and 116 provides for a clockwise rotation of the body 68 from its FIGS. 3 and 13 position to its FIGS. 4 and 14 posi- In the FIGS. 4 and 14 positions of the element 40 and the body 68, the

teeth

114 and 116 have moved out of engagement with each other so that on further rotation of the element 40 in a counterclockwise direction, to its stop position in which the side 53 engages the projection 55, the body 68 remains in a stationary position. When the element 40 is rotated in a clockwise position from its position shown in FIG. 14, to its position shownin FIG. 13, the teeth 114 drive the teeth 116 so as to rotate the body 68 in a counterclockwise direction so as to move it from its FIG. 14 position to its FIG. 13 position.

In the position of the element 40 shown in FIGS. 3 and 13, the spring pressed nylon ball or detent 62 extends into .a cavity 118 in the housing surface 25, and the projection or detent 76 on the body 68 extends into the cavity 78. When the element 40 is moved to its position shown in FIG. 14, the ball 62 is moved out'of the cavity 118 and rides on the surface 25 to a position in which it is dropped into a second cavity 120. The

cavities

118 and 120 are disposed on the arc of a circle having its center located substantially on the axis of rotation of the element 40. During movement of the body 68 from its FIG. 13 to its FIG. 14 position, the detent 76 rides out of the cavity 78, against the action of the spring 112, and then drops into the cavity 80.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the terminal insulator body 26 is formed with an enlarged portion 122 on its rear side so as to provide sufiicient material to accommodate an arcuate cavity 124 which is formed on the front side of the body 26. A rheostat, indicated generally at 126, is positioned in the cavity 124 and consists of an arcuate core 128, formed of anonconducting material and preferably formed ofaluminum, and a winding 1'30 consisting of fine insulated wire wound about the core 128 in a conventional manner. The core 128 is formed at its ends with supporting

legs

132 and 134 which are supported on a surface 136 of the terminal insulator body 26 at the bottom of the cavity 124, and the winding 130 is disposed on the core 128 between the

legs

132 and 134. One end of the winding 130 is attached to the core 128 adjacent the leg 134 and the opposite end of the winding 130 is stripped of its insulation and wound about a conductor pin 140 which secures the terminal D to the insulator body 26. The winding portion 138 functions to maintain one end of the rhe-ostat 126 on the insulator body 26 and the opposite end is retained on the body 26 by a tab 142 which isbent downwardly into engagement with a shoulder 144 on the core 128 above the leg 134. The tab is formed on an irregularly-shaped contact plate 146, preferably formed of copper, which is secured to the front side of the insulator body 26 by a conductor pin 148 which also functions to mount the terminal A on the terminal insulator body 26. The contact plate 146 is formed at one end with a raised portion which constitutesa contact 162. A downturned tab 164- on contact 162 facilitates sliding engagement thereof with a movable contact on the housing portion 24. arcuate raised portion 166 on plate 146 also constitutes a contact. 1

v As shown in FIG. 10, the rheostat core 128 is formed 'with areduced height end portion 150 adjacent the wire portion 138, and this core portion 150 is arranged in an underlying relation with a portion 152 of a rheostat contact plate 154 which is attached by means of the pin 140 to the body 26 in an electrical conducting relation with the wire portion 138. This is accomplished by positioning a washer 156 between the body 26 and the wire portion 138 and forming the head 158 on the pin 140 so that it engages the contact plate 154. The rheostat contact plate 152 is also formed with a raised portion 160 which constitutes a contact.

A ground contact strip 168 is positioned in a groove 170 in the terminal insulator body 26 and is retained therein by a downturned tab 172. The strip 168 has a pair of raised portions which constitute

contacts

174 and 176 and an end tab 178 which is in engagement with the v 8 housing portion 24 so as to ground metal panel 18.

A 'bimetal circuit breaker element or strip 180, positioned in a cavity 182 in the terminal insulator body 26 is secured at one end by a conductor'pin 184 to the terminal F. At its opposite end, the strip 180 is provided with a contact 1 86 which normally engages a pin 188 which is secured to the terminal B. When the strip 180 becomes heated above a predetermined temperature, it moves to its position shown in broken lines in FIG. 11 so as to break the normal engagement of the contact 186 the strip 168 on the I and the conductor pin 188.

A spring switch blade 190 (FIGS. 8 and 17), positioned in a cavity 192 in the terminal insulator body 26, is connected at one end by a pin 194 which is in turn connected to one end of a strip 202, the opposite end of which is connected to the terminal F. The blade 190 is bent so that it normally assumes the inclined position shown in FIG. 17 in which a contact 196 on the opposite end of the blade 190 is spaced from a conductor pin 198 which mounts the terminal C on the insulator body 26. A dielectric pad 200, mounted on the blade 190 intermediate its ends, is aligned with the shaft end portion 34. As a result, when the shaft end portion 34 is moved to its position W in FIGS. 1 and 17, it exerts a force on the pad 200 which moves the blade 190 to its broken line position in FIGS. 1 and 17 in which the contact 196 engages the conductor pin 198 and completes the circuit between the terminals C and F. A conductor pin 204 on the body 26 is connected to terminal G and a conductor pin 206 onthe body 26 is connected to terminal E.

In the assembly of the switch apparatus of this invention, an insulating washer 210 (FIGS. 1 and 15) is positioned on the inner end of the insulator body 26 so that a plurality of openings in the washer 210 are aligned with the fixed

contacts

154, 160, 162, 174, 176, 184 and 206,

the rheostate 126, the pin 148, and the on-01f switch actuating shaft end'portion '34, as shown in FIG. 15. The body 26 is telescoped into the housing portion 24 so that a projection (not shown) on the housing portion 24 fits into aligned notches 212 (FIG. 15) in the washer 210 and the insulator body 26 to preclude relative rotation of the body 26 and the housing portion 24. Following telescoping of the body 26 into the housing portion 24, the housing portion 24 is crimped, as shown at 28, into engagement with the insulator body 26 at a position outwardly of the flange 29. This assembly maintains the body 26 mounted on the housing portion 24 in .a predetermined position of the fixed contacts on the body relative to the

movable contacts

46 and 48 on

strip

44, 96 and 98 on

strip

92, and and 102 onstrip 94 (FIG. 3) in the par positions of the contact carryingrrnembers 40 and 68.

In the park positions of the

members

40 and 68, the contact strip 44, which is formed with the

contacts

46 and 48, extends between the fixed contacts and 174 (FIG. 16), the contact strip 92, which is formed with the

contacts

96 and 98, extends between the fixed

contacts

162 and 206, and the contact strip 94, which is formed with the

contacts

100 and 162, extends between the fixed

contacts

184 and 204.

As shown in the circuit diagram illustrated in FIG. 16, when the switch apparatus 10 is used as a wiper control switch, the switch terminals are connected to the vehicle wiper motor, indicated diagrammatically at 220, which includes an armature AR, grounded as indicated at 222, a series field F and a shunt field F The switch terminal A is connected by a wire 224 to one end of the series field F the opposite end of which is connected by a wire 226 to the terminal G. A switch LS, in series with the series winding F is illustrated interposed in the wire 226. The switch terminal B is connected by a wire 228 to the vehicle battery 230 which is grounded as shown at 232. The switch terminal C is connected by a wire 234 to the electric washer pump. The terminal D is connected by a wire 23-6 to one end of the shunt winding F the opposite end of which is connected by a wire 238 to the terminal The switch terminal F is provided as an extra terminal for attachment to some other electrical component of the vehicle, such as the backup light, which it is desired to have in circuit with the circuit breaker element 184).

The movable switch contact strips 44, 92 and 94 are shown in solid lines in FIG. 16 in the park position of the switch apparatus 10. in this position, the field winding F is not energized because the switch LS which is a conventional wiper motor park switch, is opened when the Wipers are in park positions and the shunt field F is grounded at one end through the terminal D and the ground contact 174, and at the opposite end at 222. When the shaft 30 is rotated to a position in which the spring pressed ball 62 on element 40 is moved into the cavity 120, the switch is in the on position and the windshield wipers will operate at low speed. In this position of the shaft 30, the teeth 114 on element 40 have been disengaged from teeth 116 on body 68 (FIG. 14), the contact strip 44 has been moved to a position in which it extends between the arcuate contact 166 and the fixed rheostat contact plate 154. The contact strip 92 has been moved to a position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 16, in Which it extends between the fixed

contacts

206 and 176, and the contact strip 94 has been moved to a position, also shown in broken lines in FIG. 16, in which it extends between the fixed

contacts

184 and 162. In this position the armature AR and the series winding F are connected in series and are connected in parallel with the shunt winding F The terminal E is connected to groundcontact 176 through the contact strip 92, and the terminal D is connected to the battery 23th through the

contact members

44 and 94. Consequently, the armature is energized to operate the wiper motor to in turn move the wipers back and forth in the conventional manner.

When the shaft is rotated to move the contact member 44 so that the contact 48 engages the rheostat 126, the same circuit is provided, with the exception that the current must pass through the rheostat in order to travel between the fixed

contacts

154 and 166. Consequently, the rotated position of the shaft 30, which determines the position of the contact 48 on the rheostat 126, determines the speed of the wiper motor. During operation of the wipers the conventional park control switch LS is closed, but terminal G is connected to open contact 204 so no current flows through LS.

When the shaft 30 is rotated in an opposite direction to return the

contact members

92, 94 and 44 to their park positions, shown in full lines, the windings F and F are connected in series through the terminals A and E which are connected by the strip 92, This connection of terminals A and E is provided because the terminal A is connected by the conductor pin 148 to the fixed contact 162 on the contact plate 146. The windings F and F are momentarily energized through wire 226, which is connected to the battery through strip 94, to operate motor 220 to return the windshield wipers to positions at the lowerend of the windshield, at which time L8 is automatically opened in a conventional manner to shut off the wiper motor. Switch apparatus 10 is then in condition to repeat the above described sequence.

From the above description it is seen that this invention provides switch apparatus 10 in which the rheostat portion of the switch, namely, the element 40 which carries contact strip 44 is operable to vary the speed of the wiper motor while the reversing switch portion of the switch, namely, body 68 which carries the contact strips 92 and 94 remains in a fixed operative position (FIGS. 4 and 14). As best appears in FIG. 16, the switch apparatus 10 is connected to the battery 230 through the terminal B which is connected, through fixed contact 188, to the overload element 186). As a result, in the event a short or other defect occurs in the wiper motor circuit, or

any other circuit connected to the terminal F, the element becomes overheated and opens the connection of the

contacts

184 and 188 to in turn open the entire circuit. As soon as the element 180 cools, it again bridges the

contacts

184 and 188. This arrangement enables intermittent operation of the wiper motor to thereby enable the vehicle operator to obtain some use of his wipers between the time a short occurs and the time he is able to reach a service facility. As shown in FIG. 16, the washer blade 190 is connected to the terminal 184 which is in turn connected through the overload element 180 to the battery. As a result, whenever operation of the washer pump is desired, such operation can be effected by manually urging the shaft 30 inwardly, by exerting pressure on knob 38, to bend the blade 190 into engagement with the fixed contact 198. Washer operation can thus be effected irre spective of the position of the

blades

44, 92 and 94 in the switch apparatus 10. As soon as manual pressure on knob 38 is released, the spring force of blade 190 returns it to its solid line position shown in FIG. 17 to in turn return shaft 30 and knob 38 to their outer positions shown in solid lines in FIG, 1. The blade 190 thus serves a dual purpose, namely, as a contact blade and as a return spring. The three positions of knob 38 corresponding to rotated park, on-low and on-high positions of switch apparatus 10 are shown in FIG. 2.

In the event switch apparatus 10 is desired without an on-off switch such as provided by the switch blade 190, the assembly 10 may be simplified by eliminating the sliding support of the shaft 30 in the stem 14, as shown in FIG. 12. In such event, the contact carrying element 41) is fixed on the terminal end of the shaft 20', and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 12 this is accomplished by forming the end portion 250 of the shaft 30 with serrations 252. The opening 42 of the element 46 is then formed of a size such that when the shaft end portion'250 is forced therein, it is positively locked to the element 40. The switch assembly 10 is then operated in a manner identical to that above described,- without any on-off switch operation useful for operating the windshield washer pump.

It will be understood that the electric switch apparatus which is herein disclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What'is claimed is:

1. In switching apparatus which includes a housing, fixed contacts in said housing, and movable contacts in said housing, said movable contacts being mounted on a pair of contact carrying members rotatably mounted in said housing, engagea'ble projection means on said members providing for movement of one of said members between a pair of positions in which the contacts thereon are engaged with certain'of said fixed contacts in response to back and forth rotation of the other one of said members, said housing and said one contact carrying member having coacting detent means which define said pair of positions.

2. In switching apparatus which includes a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted on said housing, fixed contacts in said housing, and a rheostat winding in said housing; a contact carrying member having contacts mounted thereon, said member being mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith through a first angle which includes first and second defined'positions of said member in which the contacts thereon engage certain of said fixed contacts and through a second angle in which a contact thereon engages said winding, a contact carrying body rotatably mounted on said housing for movement between a pair of defined positions, contact means on said body engageable with certain of said fixed contacts in said defined positions thereof, and engageable gear teeth on said member and body arranged so that said teeth mesh only during rotation of said member through said first angle to provide for movement. of said body between said defined positions thereof in response to rotation of said member through said first angle.

3. In a windshield wiper control switch which includes a rotatable actuating shaft, a rheostatwinding and fixed a terminal insulator body formed of a dielectric material and provided with an arcuate cavity, a rheostat core of arcuate shape positioned in said cavity, said core having supporting legs at the ends thereof supported on said body so that said core between said legs is spaced from said body, a winding on said core, a contact plate mounted on said body in a spaced relation with said winding, a contact carrying member having contacts thereon engageable with said winding and said contact plate, means on said housing for moving said contact carrying member so that the contacts thereon are movable along said winding and said contact piate, and means including tab means on said contact plate engaged with said core for maintaining said legs is supported positions on said body. V

'5. In switching apparatus, a housing which includes a terminal insulator body formed of a dielectric material and provided with an arcuate cavity, a rheostat core of arcuate shape disposed in said cavity, said core having supporting legs at the ends thereof supported on said body so that said core between said legs is spaced from said body, a winding on said core, a contact plate mounted on said body in a spaced relation with said winding, a contact carrying member having contacts thereon engageable with said winding and said contact plate, means on said housing for moving said contact carrying member so that the contacts thereon are movable along said winding and said contact plate, means including tab means on-said contact plate engaged with said core adjacent one end thereof for maintaining the leg at said one end in supported position on said body, a rheostat contact plate, aterminal connecting'said rheostat contact plate to said body adjacent the opposite end of said core, said core having a'portion thereof at said opposite end of a reduced size and arranged in an underlying relation' with a portion of said rheostat contact plate, and one end of said winding extending from said opposite end of said core being attached to said terminal to maintain the leg at the opposite end of said corein a supported position on said body.

6. In switch apparatus having a housing which includes a dielectric insulator body, a terminal on saidinsulator body adapted to be connected to a source of current, a pair of fixed contacts on said insulator body -positioned in said housing and one of which is connected to said terminal, a circuit breaker blade connected to the other one of said pair of contacts and normally engaged with the one contact, said circuit breaker blade being constructed to move away from said one contact when said blade is heated above a predetermined temperature, a reversing switch member movably mounted in said housing, a plurality of circuit controlling contacts mounted on said reversing switch member for movement to a plurality of positions, said plurality of contacts being arranged so that one of said movable conwas is engaged with the other one of said pair of contacts in all moved positions of said reversing switch member, a rheostatoperating switch member in said housing,

means for rotating said rheostat operating switch member, and coacting means on said switch members providing for movement of said reversing switch member between said plurality of positions in response to rotation of said rheostat operating switch member.

7. In switching apparatus, a contact carrying member formed of a dielectric material and having a face and a pair' of substantially parallel sides extending laterally from said face, a contact strip formed of a current conducting material, said strip being of a generally U-shape so that it has a base and a pair of legs, such base being positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to said face so that said legs are substantially parallel to said sides, spring means on said member engaged with said base so as to urge said base in a direction away from said face, said legs having slots formed therein, projections on said sides extended into said slots, said projections being engageable with said legs at one of the ends of each of said slots to limit movement of said base in said one direction, and said projections being shaped so that they have a pair of sides which converge in the direction of said face to facilitate installation of said legs on said sides in positions in which said projections snap into said slots.

8. In switching apparatus which includes a housing comprised of a hollow cup-shape portion and a terminal insulator secured to said cup-shape portion, a shaft rotatably mounted on said housing, fixed contacts mounted on said insulator and disposed in said housing, and a rheostat winding mounted on said insulator and disposed in said housing, a contact carrying member formed of a dielectric material and mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said member being formed of a dielectric material and having a face and a pair of substantially parallel sides extending laterally from said face, a contact strip formed 'of a current conducting of material,

said strip being of a generally U-shape so that it has a base and a pair of legs, said base being positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to said face so that said legs are substantially parallel to said sides, projections on said 'base constituting contacts, spring means on said member engaged with said base so as to urge said base in a direction away from said face, said member having an opening therein in which said spring is disposed, said opening terminating at one end in said face and at the opposite end in a ball seat, a ball formed of a dielectric material and disposed in said seat, said spring extending between said base and said ball so as to urge the base and the ball in opposite directions, said member being rotatable with said shaft through a first angle which includes first and second defined positions of said member in which the contacts thereon engage certain of said fixed contacts and through a second angle in which one of-the contacts thereon engages said winding, a contact carrying body rotatably mounted on said housing adjacent said contact carrying member for movement between a pair of defined positions, second and third contact strips mounted in a spaced relation, means on said body urging said strips toward certain of said fixed contacts for engagement with different ones of said fixed contacts in said defined positions of said body, engageable gear teeth on said member and body arranged so that said'teeth mesh only during rotation of said member through said first angle to provide for movement of said body between said defined positions thereof in response to rotation of said member through said first angle, and means forming spaced cavities in said housing shaped to receive said ball to define moved positions of said contact carrying member.

9. In switching apparatus which includes a housing comprised of a hollow cup-shape portion and a terminal insulator secured to said cup-shape portion, a shaft rotatably mounted on said housing, fixed contacts mounted on said insulator and disposed in said housing, and a rheostat winding mounted on said insulator and disposed in said housing; a contact carrying element mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, a first contact strip having contacts projecting therefrom mounted on said contact carrying element, spring means on said contact carrying element urging said strip toward said fixed contacts, said element being rotatable with said shaft through a first angle which includes first and second defined positions of said element in which the contacts thereon engage certain of said fixed contacts and through a second angle in which one of the contacts thereon engages said winding, a contact carrying body rotatably mounted on said housing adjacent said contact carrying element for movement between a pair of defined positions, second and third contact strips mounted in a spaced relation, means on said body urging said strips toward certain of said fixed contacts for engagement with different ones of said fixed contacts in said defined positions of said body, and engageable gear teeth on said element and body arranged so that said teeth mesh only during rotation of said element through said first angle to provide for movement of said body between said defined positions thereof in response to rotation of said member through said first angle, said element having an opening therein in which said spring means is disposed, said opening terminating at one end in said face and at the opposite end in a ball seat, a ball formed of a dielectric material and disposed in said seat, said spring extending between said base and said ball so as to urge the base and the ball in opposite directions, and means forming ball receiving cavities in said housing positioned to receive said ball in positions of said element corresponding to said defined positions of said body.

It). In switching apparatus which includes a housing comprisedof a hollow cup-shape portion and a terminal insulator secured to said cup-shape portion, a shaft rotatably mounted on said housing, fixed contacts mounted on said insulator and disposed in said housing, and a rheostat winding mounted on said insulator and disposed in said housing, a contact carrying member mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, a first contact strip having contacts projecting therefrom mounted on said contact carrying member, spring means on said contact carrying member urging said strip toward said fixed contacts, said member being rotatable with said shaft through a first angle which includes first and second defined positions of said member in which the contacts thereon engage certain of said fixed contacts and through a second angle in which one of the contacts thereon engages said winding, a contact carrying body 'rotatably mounted on said housing adjacent said contact carrying member for movement between a pair of defined positions, second and third contact strips mounted in a spaced relation on said body, means on said body urging said strips toward certain of said fixed contacts for engagement with different ones of said fixed contacts in said defined positions of said body, and engageable gear teeth on said member and body arranged so that said teeth mesh only during rotation of said member through said i'first angle to provide for movement of said body between said defined positions thereof in response to ro 'tation of said member through said first angle.

'11. In windshield wiper washer switching apparatus which includes a housing, fixed contacts mounted in said housing, movable contacts mounted in said housing for :selective engagement with saidfixed contacts, and rtatable and reciprocable shaft means in said housing 'operatively associated with said movable contacts for selectively moving said movable contacts in either direction about the axis of rotation of said'shaft means into engagement with selected ones of said fixed contacts; a pair of terminals mounted on said housing in a spaced relation, one of said terminals being adapted for connection to a source of current and the other being adapted for connection to a. washer pump, a spring switch blade connected at one end to said one of said terminals and positioned so that the opposite end is engageable with said other terminal to complete a circuit'between said terminals, said spring blade being shaped so that said opposite end is normally spaced from said other terminal in the absence of a force on said spring blade urging it into contact with said other terminal, dielectric pad means on said spring positioned in substantial alignment with and engaged with said reciprocable shaft means so that on urging of said shaft means in one direction toward said spring blade said. shaft means is operable to move said spring blade into engagement with said other terminal, and so that on release of said shaft means said spring blade will move said shaft means in an opposite direction, said shaft means being mounted in said housing for selective movement either in rotational or axial directions.

12. In switch apparatus for controlling a Windshield wiper motor, a housing comprised of a hollow cup-shape portion and a terminal insulator secured to said cupshape portion, a shaft rotatably mounted on said housing, fixed contacts mounted on said insulator and disposed in said housing, terminals on said housing connected to said fixed contacts and adapted to be connected to said motor, a rheostat winding mounted on said insulator and disposed in said housing, a contact carrying rheostat control element fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, a first contact strip having contacts projecting therefrom mounted on said contact carrying element, spring means on said contact carrying element urging said strip toward said fixed contacts, said element being rotatable with said shaft through a first angle which includes first and second defined positions of said element in which the contacts thereon engage certain of said fixed contacts and through a second angle in which one of the contacts thereon engages said winding, a contact carrying body rotatably mounted on said housing adjacent said contact carrying element for movement between a pair of defined positions, second and third contact strips mounted in a spaced relation on said body and operable in certain positions to provide for operation of said motor and in other positions to terminate operation of said motor, means on said body urging said strips toward certain ofsaidfixed contacts for engagement with different ones of said fixed contacts in said defined positions of said body, and engageable gear teeth on said member and body arranged so that said teeth mesh only during rotation of said member through said first angle to provide for movement of said body between said defined positions thereof in response to rotation of said member through said first angle.

13. In switching apparatus which includes a housing, fixed contacts in said housing, and movabie contacts in said housing said movable contacts being mounted on a pair of contact carrying members rotatably mounted in said housing, engageable projection means onsaid members providing for movement of one of said members between a pair of positions in which the contacts thereon are engaged with certain of said fixed contacts in response to back and forth rotation of the other one of said members, projection means on said one another extended toward a portion of said housing, a pair of spaced cavities in said housing portion positioned to receive said projection means in said pair of positions of said one member, and inclined ramp means in said housing extending between said cavities so that in a moved position of said one member between said pair of positions said projection means is engaged with said ramp means.

1,549,524 8/1925 Collier ZOO-61.54

(Other references on following page) 9/1919 Hynes 200-159 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS Norviel 20011 Stoekle 338172 X Turner et a1 338198 X Andrews 2004 Mucher 338172 Soreng 20011.23 X Ellithorpe 20016 X 14 3,004,119 10/1961 Gerrie 2004 X 3,047,825 7/1962 Biltz 338172 3,205,466 9/1965 Youngbeck et a1. -338198 X 5 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Examiner.

C. L. ALBRITTON, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN SWITCHING APPARATUS WHICH INCLUDES A HOUSING, FIXED CONTACTS IN SAID HOUSING, AND MOVABLE CONTACTS IN SAID HOUSING, SAID MOVABLE CONTACTS BEING MOUNTED ON A PAIR OF CONTACT CARRYING MEMBERS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, ENGAGEABLE PROJECTION MEANS ON SAID MEMBERS PROVIDING FOR MOVEMENT OF ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BETWEEN A PAIR OF POSITIONS IN WHICH THE CONTACTS THEREON ARE ENGAGED WITH CERTAIN OF SAID FIXED CONTACTS IN RESPONSE TO BACK AND FORTH ROTATION OF THE OTHER ONE OF SAID MEM-