US3017476A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1962 P. N. BECKA 3,017,476

SWITCH Filed June 2, 1959 2 Sheetg-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

PAUL N. BECKA,

United States Patent The invention relates in general to switches and more particularly to electrical switches for alternately establishing first and second electrical circuit means.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical switch which is reliable in operation and economical in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which includes a generally U-shaped contactor slidable in a slot with the end portions of the contac-tor biased outwardly toward fixed contacts and restrained in their outward movement by the walls of the slot whereby the position of the end portions of the contactor relative to the fixed contacts is determined by the position of the contactor in the slot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which in a first position establishes first electrical circuit means and in a second position establishes second electrical circuit means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a makebefore-break switch which keeps the voltage from building up to an excessive value when the switch is being used for example with the secondary of a high voltage transformer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which is capable of controlling several electrical circuits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which is actuated by an actuator moving through a straight line movement to move a contactor angularly with respect thereto and relative to a fixed contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch wherein a relatively small actuator movement may be transformed into a relatively large movement between fixed and movable contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which has two separate electrical contactors which control first and second electrical circuit means from one source whereby there is no opportunity for sparking between the contactors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch movable from a first to a second position by a solenoid and from the second to the first position by a spring which switch will still move from the second to the first position in the event the spring becomes broken.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the switch of the present invention showing the switch in one position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the switch in another position;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken generally along the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view tken generally along the line 6--6 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is a view of the switch in a position intermediate the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a view of one of the switch cont-actors removed from the switch.

3,017,476 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 The switch shown in the accompanying drawings is a solenoid operated switch indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and this switch includes in combination :a mounting plate 12 having holes 13 therein for the reception of screws to suitably mount the switch wherever it is desired. A solenoid 15 is secured to the mounting plate 12 by bolts 16 and a plastic switch body 18 is located at the other end of the plate 12. The switch body includes mounting legs 20 and bolts 21 extend through the mounting legs to fixedly secure the switch body 18 to the main mounting plate 12. Wall means 23 define a slot in the plastic switch body 18 which extends substantially the entire length thereof. The upper portion of the slot is defined by end side members 25 and intermediate side members 26. A cover member 28 is secured in place by bolts 29 and this cover members serves to close the open upper end of the slot 23. The end side members 25 hereinabove referred to may also be referred to as cam means for reasons which will appear from a reading of the remaining specification.

First and second spring contactors 31 and 32 are provided and each have an intermediate portion 34 and first and second end portions 35 and 36, respectively. The intermediate portions of each of the spring contactors is bent into generally a U-shaped as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 and the intermediate portion and parts of the first and second end portions reside in the slot 23. The first and second end portions of the spring contactors extend in the same general direction out of the slot. The ends of the contactors are bent generally away from each other into what may be called a Y-shape. The inherent nature of the material of construction of the spring contactors 31 and 32 tends to urge the end portions 35 and 36 away from each other to the position of the contactor 31 in FIGURE 2 and the position of contactor 32 in FIG- URE 1. An insulated connecting member 39 serves to transmit movement of the solenoid core 40 to the first and second spring contacts 31 and 32. One end of the connecting member 31 is secured to the core 40 by means of a pin 42 and the other end portion of the connecting member slidably resides in the slot 23 below the spring contactors 31 and 32. Intermediate the ends of the connecting member an integral stud or protrusion 44 is provided and at either end of the stud, transverse slots 46 and 47 are provided. The intermediate portion 34 of the firstspring cont actor 31 resides in the transverse slot 46 and the intermediate portion 34 of the second spring cont-actor 32 resides in slot 47. It will thus be seen that second spring contactors 31 and 32. One end of the connecting member 39 transmits movement to the first and second spring contactors. The solenoid is shown in its de-energized position in FIGURE 1 and this may be referred to as the first position of the solenoid and spring contactors and upon energization of the solenoid, the spring contactors move to a second position shown in FIGURE 2. The cont actors in moving from the first to the second position are such that they provide a makebefore-break construction which is shown in FIGURE 7. A spring 50 is provided in the switch body 18 and one end of the spring bears against a shoulder 52 on the insulated connecting member 39 and the other end bears against the switch body. This spring serves to return the contactors to their first position shown in FIGURE 1 after the solenoid has been de-energized.

The switch shown in the drawings of the application has been illustrated as controlling first and second electrical circuit means. The first electrical circuit means includes first and second fixed contacts 53 and 54 held in position by bolts 55 and 56 which serve as electrical terminals for securing wires 57 and 58. The second electrical circuit means includes fixed contacts 60 and 61 respectively, secured in position by means of bolts 62 and 63 which '3 also serve as electrical terminals and terminal 63 is shown as securing a wire 64, thereto. Electrical connection is provided between terminals 55 and 62 by means of an electrically conducting bar 66. The fixed contacts 53 and 4 may be referred to as first contact means for establishing a first electrical circuit and the fixed contacts 60 and 61 maybe referred to as second contact means for establishing a second electrical circuit.

The operation of the switch may be explained as follows: The conductor 57 leading to terminal 55 may for the sake of example, be connected to the secondary of a high voltage transformer and in the first position of the switch the first and second end portions 35 and 36 of the first spring contactor 31 engage respectively the fixed contacts 53 and 54 to establish the first electrical circuit from conductor 57 through conductor 58. The current flows through the length of the spring contactor including the first and second end portions and the U-shaped inter mediate portion. In the first position the first and second end portions of the second spring contactor are out of engagement with the fixed contacts 60 and 61 and as a result the second electrical circuit from conductor 57 through conductor 64 is broken. When the solenoid is energized,

the spring contactors are moved into their second position (FIGURE 2) which causes the side portions of the first spring contactor 31 to be moved into the slot 23 or into engagement with the end side members 25 which causes the end portions of the contactor to be cammed out of engagement with the first and second contacts 53 and 54 which breaks the electrical circuit between conductors 57 and 58. This same movement causes the side portions of the second spring contactor to move out of the slot at the end of the switch body adjacent the solenoid and because of the biasing of the material of construction of the contactor causes the end portions of the second contactor to "engage the fixed contacts 60 and 61 thus establishing the second electrical circuit from conductor 57 through the conducting bar 66, fixed contact 60, spring contactor 32, fixed'contact 61, and conductor 64. FIGURE 7 shows the position of the contactors 31 and 32 intermediate the reverse movement of the switch from the second to the first position is also make-before-break.

It will thus be seen that in the switch of the present invention that a make-before-break switch has been provided whichwhen used, for example, in conjunction with the secondary of a high voltage transformer prevents the transformer voltage from building up to an excessive value because the second electrical circuit is made before the first electrical circuit is broken and vice versa. With the use of the camming or angular type movement of the spring contactor, the straight line or linear movement of the solenoid core may be translated into a larger gap between the fixed contacts and the movable contactor. A switch has also been provided where with the use of two separate contactors, there is no opportunity for sparking between the same because in effect there is no potential difference between the two. In the normal operation of the switch of the present invention, the solenoid is positioned vertically above the switch body which carries the contactors so that in the event the compression spring 50 which is utilized becomes broken, the switch will still move to the position shown in FIGURE 1 when the solenoid is deenergized. It will also be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the switch shown and illustrated herein is capable of controlling numerous circuits in addition to the two which have been illustrated herein.

. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A solenoid operated switch including in combination a mounting plate, a solenoid secured to said mounting plate, a plastic switch body secured to said mounting plate, wall means defining a slot in aid plastic switch body, first and second spring contactors each having an intermediate portion and first and second end portions, said intermediate portions being bent into generally a U-shape and residing in said slot with said first and second end portions of each contactor extending in the same general direction and each contactor extending from different ends of said slot, said first and second end portions of each contactor being biased away from each other, an insulated connecting member extending between and connecting said solenoid to said intermediate portions of said spring con-v tactors, said solenoid upon energization moving said spring contactors from a first to a second position, spring means for moving said spring contactors from said second to said first position, first and second contact means for establishing first and second electrical circuit means, said first and second end portions of said first spring contactor engaging said first contact means in said first position to establish said first electrical circuit means and said first and second end portions of said second spring contactor being out of engagement with said second contact means 'to break said second electrical circuit means, movement of said spring contactors to said second position causing said first and second side portions of said first spring contactor to move to different places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and to move out of engagement with saidfirst contact means to break said first electrical circuit means and causing said first and second side portions of said second spring contactor to moveto different places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and to move into engagement with said second contact means to establish said second electrical circuit means.

2. A switch including in combination a solenoid and a switch body, wall means defining a. slot insaid switch body, first and second spring contactors each having an intermediate portion and first and second end portions, said intermediate portions being bent into generally a U-shape and residing in said slot with said first and second end portions of each contactor extending in the same general direction and each contactor extending from diiferent ends of said slot, said first and second end portions of each contactor being biased away from each other, a connecting member extending between and connecting said solenoid to said intermediate portions of said spring contactors, said solenoid upon energization moving said spring contactors from a first to a second position, spring means for moving said spring contactor from said second to said first position, first and second contact means'for establishing first and second electrical circuit means, said first and second end portions of said first spring contactor engaging said first contact means in said first position to establish said first electrical circuit means and said first and second end portions of said second spring contactor being out of engagement with said second contact means to break saidsecond electrical circuit means, movement of said spring contactors to saidsecond position causing said first and second side portions of said first spring contactor to move to different places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and to move out of engagement with said first contact means to break said first electrical circuit means and causing said first and second side portions of said second spring contactor to move to different places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and to move into engagement with said second contact means to establish said second electrical circuit means.

3. A switch including a switch body, wall means defining a slot in said switch body, first and second spring contactors each having an intermediate portion and first and second end portions, said intermediate portions being bent into generally a U-shape and residing in said slot with said first and second end portions of each contactor extending in the same general direction and each contactor extending from diflerent ends of said slot, said first and second end portions of each contactor being biased away from each other, means for moving said spring contactors from a first to a second position, spring means for moving said spring contactors from said second to said first position, first and second contact means for establishing first and second electrical circuit means, said first and second end portions of said first spring contactor engaging said first contact means in said first position to establish said first electrical circuit means and said first and second end portions of said second spring contactor being out of engagement with said second contact means to break said second electrical circuit means, movement of said spring contactors to said second position causing said first and second side portions of said first spring contactor to move to diflerent places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and to move out of engagement with said first contact means to break said first electrical circuit means and causing said first and second side portions of said second spring contactor to move to different places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and to move into engagement with said second contact means to establish said second electrical circuit means.

4. A solenoid operated switch including in combination a mounting plate, a solenoid secured to said mounting plate, a plastic switch body secured to said mounting plate, wall means defining a slot in said plastic switch body, a spring contactor having an intermediate portion and first and second end portions, said intermediate portion being bent into generally a U-shape and residing in said slot with said first and second end portions extending in the same general direction and extending from said slot, said first and second end portions being biased away from each other, an insulated connecting member extending between and connecting said solenoid to said intermediate portion of said spring contactor, said solenoid upon energization moving said spring contactor from a first to a second position, spring means for moving said spring contactor from said second to said first position, first and second fixed contacts, said first and second end portions of said spring contactor engaging said first and second contacts respectively in one of said first and second positions to establish electrical connection between said first and second contacts, movement of said spring contactor to the other of said first and second positions causing said first and second end portions of said spring contactor to move to different places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and to move out of engagement with said first and second contacts to break electrical connection between said first and second contacts.

5. A switch including in combination a solenoid and a switch body, wall means defining a slot in said switch body, a contactor comprising spring material having an intermediate portion and first and second end portions, said intermediate portion of said contactor being bent into generally a U-shape and residing in said slot with said first and second end portions extending in the same general direction and extending from said slot, said spring material of said contactor normally biasing said first and second end portions away from each other, a connecting member extending between and connecting said solenoid to said intermediate portion of said contactor, said solenoid upon energization moving said contactor from a first to a second position, spring means for moving said contactor from said second to said first position, first and second contacts, said first and second end portions of said contactor engaging said first and second contacts respectively in one of said first and second positions to establish electrical connection between said first and second contacts, movement of said contactor to the other of said first and second positions causes said first and second end portions of said contactor to move to diflerent places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and to move out of engagement with said first and second contacts to break electrical connection between said first and second contacts.

6. A switch including in combination a switch body, wall means defining slot means in said switch body, a contactor comprising spring material having an intermediate portion and first and second end portions, said intermediate portion of said contactor being bent into generally a U-shape and residing in said slot means with said first and second end portions extending in the same general direction and extending from said slot means, said spring material of said contactor normally biasing said first and second end portions relative to each other, means for moving said contactor from a first to a second position, spring means for moving said contactor from said second to said first position, first and second contacts, said first and second end portions of said contactor engaging said first and second contacts respectively in one of said first and second positions to establish electrical connection between said first and second contacts, movement of said contactor to the other of said first and second positions causes said first and second end portions of said contactor to move to different places of engagement with said wall means of said slot means and to move out of engagement with said first and second contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 630,364 Gaifney Dec. 31, 1901 2,521,561 Batcheller Sept. 5, 1950 2,594,644 Hansen Apr. 29, 1952 2,684,410 Stein July 20, 1954 2,769,064 Rowe Oct. 30, 1956 2,903,531 Winter Sept. 8, 1959 2,935,584 Weichardt May 3, 1960

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