US1183376A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

Patented May16,1916

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

H. HANSEN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEI, 1915.

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H. HANSEN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. I915.

1 ,183,-376. Patented May 16, I916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

ma lmoa ?wolom I A WW4 #714577)?! inr HERMAN HANSEN, E ZIEW YGRK, .121, .e.

Patented Mary 315, 1916,

Application filed June 7, 1515. serial l lo, $53,570.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMA li'iinsnn, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New Y rlz, in. the county and State of New York, have invented a cer ta-in new and useful Improvement in Electrio Switches-of which the following is a specification, the same bein at full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electric. circuitchsnging devices coming generally under the head of push button snap switches and designed for employment in the industrial application of electricity, as for example, in connection with electric lights and house wiring and for small power or heating purposes, etc, and in particular to a rollingcontact device preferably used in a switch.-

ing mechanism of the class named by w iich the contact terminals may be positively and quickly locked in'electric engagement with the main line terminals, or else locked in a' position disengaged therefrom, without appreciable friction at the operative junction of the parts.

In the structure herein set f rth the line 36 terminals are protected by being spaced on a retainer therefor in which retainer the operative junction takes place, the parts being so or angcd as-to protect the said preferably spring terminals against possible fusion or grounding, on account of the said spacing and of the comparatively large size of the rolling-contact members located at the operative junction, whereby the friction ordinarily residing at the said contact point is avoided and greater ease of action of the parts is secured by the movement of the said automatically urtiiig parts, the whole bein'g of comparatively simple construction and operating with certainty and precision.

To attain the desired end, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and operation of parts herein set forth.

in the sccompanying drawings is illus trated one type of a switching mechanism designated by. suitable reference numerals in each of the views, and 111 which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in which the invention is embodied, in which the separate parts of the improvement are.

section, an instrument constructed according invention; Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the same; 3 is n vertical section taken on line 3 3 Fig. 4-; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the push buttons and parts adjacent thereto; 5 is c. sectional view 50 taken the line Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is 'a detail view of the terminals and supporting retainer; Fi "'4' is a detail view in section, taken on the line 7. Fi 5; Fig. 8 is a sectional View, taken. on a line similar to that of 5, of instrument comprising another form of the embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 9 is a section taken. on the line 9 Fig. 8. I

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in-zill the views.

fdeferring particularly to the drawings, in which the preferred'style of an electric switching mechanism is shown, it will be seen that the invention comprises the automatic rolling-contact elements herein set forth may be employed, as stated, not only with switches, whether snap or otherwise,

. but also in connection with any approved or suitable circuit changing device; but for the purpose of clearly explaining the operation of the some have illustrated the invention as used connection with an electric switch of the type patented by me on March 25, 1913, No. 1,057,1 7.

In the said drawings, 3 denotes a stationary bridge piece or bar having in this instance openings or orifices through which work the push buttons -2, and also preferably having means for engagement with an electrically non-conducting porcelain or fireproof composition casing 1. The said bar 3 has depending extensions l at the extremities of which are formed shoulders 5, and it is also made with slots 6 and with journals for a shaft 7 around which is coiled a spring 19. Rigidly secured to the ends of the shaft '2, at the exterior faces of the. extensions 4, is a ll-shaped part or movable bridge piece 9, the side portions of the same lying adjacent to the said extensions 4 being enlarged and made with peripheral openings or slots 10 and 11 located at opposite sides of the part 9. The said enlarged potion of the part 9 also'- carries, at the front face thereof, switchingcontact blades or members 12 wh ch are attached to, but preferably insulated cs at L5, from a side ortion of the U-shaped piece 9 and which lades are oscillated when the said part is moved.

A rocking yoke, preferably made in two parts, 13, 14, and having the median portion of each part lying adjacent to the inner.

faces of an extension 4, works loose on the shaft 7, to the respective ends of which yoke are pivoted the extensions 8 of the push buttons 2. The elements 13, ll, each also carry a cam, as 15, 16, which cams project toward each other and are turned in opposite directions, and eachengage slots formed in the lower edge of a sliding and longitudinally reciprocating detent17 which works in the slots 5 in such a manner that, when proach one another and to normally lie near each other, lie respectively against one car 18 lying in the same plane andalso against one edge of thecross bar of the part 9, and 80.

at the other side of the switch against the opposite edges of the other car 18 and cross bar of the part 9. The ends of the detent 17 are adapted and arranged to respectively lie either in one of the small slots 10 of the part 9 and against one of the shoulders formed by the long slot 11 located at the other side of the device, or else in the other small slot 10 and against the other shredder of the slot 11.

It has been found in practice that heavy sparking takes place at the contact blades,

12 when the circuit is opened and if this is not prevented, it soon burns and roughens the surface of the blades and one or both of the preferably: insulated line terminals 20,

, and consequently the switch is thrown out of service; Repeated occurrences of these flashings will soon heat up the parts'and even result in fusing the terminals sometimes, and

in occasioning grounding. In order to obviate th s-ob ection I have devised means for protecting the contact blades 12 and terminals 20 from heavy sparking by providing a retaining member, as a block 21, constructed' and arranged to space the said ter- "mmalsfrom the point of operative junction.

Each of theseblocks 21 has a preferably centrally located pocket or groove 22 which lies in the path of a contact blade or member 12, and is preferably provided with one or more recesses 28 located at an angle to said pocket in which are held automatically moving parts as rotary movable bodies, as balls 23 or rollers 27 or other solid or massive bodies, which are constructed and arrangedto be held in seats or concaved cup-shaped portions or indentions 24 of the terminals 20 which latter lie upon the outer faces of the said retainers 21; while as stated, the

operative junction is located in the said pocket containing the balls 23, and in which one of the contact members 12, having one or more indentions or cup-shaped recesses 25, works, the operative junction taking place between each of the said contact members 12 and the rounding faces of one or more of the said balls 23. The said balls 23 are separated by the contact members when the circuit is closed thereby forcing the free ends of the terminals, which are engaged with theopposite sides of the balls, in an outward direction. This action causes a )artial rotation of the solid or massive balls 23 which movement serves, as they turn within the inclosing recess 28, to withdraw laterally from the operative junction (in lieu of the ordinary operation of the rubbing of one piece of metal alon another one and then drawing away the ormer in the same plane) to prevent any injury from occurring to the'parts, 7-vhile at the same time, by the said movement occasioned by the said rotation of the ballsgfriction is.

avoided to a great extent and the ease of, action of the switch is greatly increased from what would otherwise be the/case.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs 8 and 9, I have illustrated solid or massive rollers 27 preferably held'within. I

the free ends of the terminals 20 which an swer the purpose or the rolling-contact de vice already described, although I refer to use in lieu thereof the balls 23 as iereinbefore set forth. An essential feature of the invention in this particular is the means by which the intermediate movable devicesl0- cated within the retainer shall work with a rolling-contact in the movement thereof at the operative junction of the parts, the said interi'nediate devices being constructed and arranged to, be displaced by the contact memberwhen engaged therewith and to resume their normal positions again when disengaged therefrom. 1

The operation of parts is as follows, the

same being in the position shown in Figs. 1

to 1, where the circuit is shown as being closed. By gradually pushing the raised button 2 in a downward direction, in order to open the circuit, the extension 8 thereof forces the left hand end the rock yoke 13, 14- downwardly and the car 18 of the part 1.3, which was previously in alincment with the horizontal portion of the bridge piece 9 (as shown inFig. 3) will move one endof the spring 19 tmvard the right, thereby increasmg the tension of the same, the other end of the spring being prevented from moving, with its car 18, by being held immovable by resting against the opposite edge of the of the horizontal pert of the element 9-. Upon the-continued depression oi the button, the

rock 'yoke13, M, is swung around, which movement causes the cams i5, 15, to

force the detent 1? to the left (in the posi ti'on shown in Fig. 4;; until it passes through the slot IO-at the right hand the side part of the bridge 9 far enough the sict in the same :(put of which the can 1.16 has in the meantime passed) to register with the left hand side piece of the said bridge piece, and

forthe righthand end of the detent l to no longer project out from the slot 6 at the "right-hand side of the part 4L. bridge piece 9 being not? free to more is forced ahead by the left hand leg of the spring-and swings around'toward the riser tton,

increrative position, farther movement be in'g prevented by the impingement of right hand shoulder of the siot with the. detent 17 and that of the horizontal-1 part of the bridge 9 against the right hand cars 5 of the extensions 4, the other end of the detent 17 now registering with the other slot 10. When the pressure on the depressed button is released, the rock yoke 18, it, has snifficient play to swing around slightly in the opposite direction, thereby causing the ears- ]5, 16, to force the detent l? tomoves suf ficientdistance to engage the said slot 10. When the newly raised button is nowagain depressed the parts are moved in the o1op0- site directions to those already described. and the detent 17 is pushed to the right {in position shown in Fig. i; 'a-suiiicient distunes for the lefthand edge of the some to clear the slot 10 in the side part of the bridge 9, whereupon the parts will again assume the positions shown'in the drawings. In the first operation described of depressing a button, in order to open thecii'cuit, the contact members 12 enter their respective pockets 22 and engage the balls 23 in the recesses 28, a1} of the parts being so in closed that there is no opportunity for the electric fluid to leap across an open gap as the case. The said operation serves to move the terminals 20 outwardly by the impact of the separated balls 23,,a good contact being thereby secured. Upon the manipulation of the other button,

however, thee-outset members are removed tory .movablc'circuit changer, as are also the insulating members. The rotary electrically conducting members, "which may be either balls or rollers, are inclosed in the insulating members which in turn are inciosed by the line terminals which serve to press the said rotary bodies together.

I Wish it to he understood that I do not desire to be lii'nited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications within the scope of the ciaims wiil occur to persons skilled in the What i claim as my invention is 1. In a device of the class dcscribed,'an osciliating circuit changer, an adjacent insulating iii ember, a line terminal, rotary electrically conducting members supported by.

the insulating member and located so as to be 111 the path of the circuit changer, one at least of said rotary members being electriberand located in the same so as to lie in the path of the circuit changer, one at least of said rotary members being electrically connected with the line terminal.

Sfin a device of the class descri ed, an

osciilating circuit changer, an adjacent insulating member, 3 line terminal tangenitally arranged as regards thepath of the circuit changer and the insulating material, rotary electrically conducting members supported by the insulating member and located so as to iie, in the path of the said circuit changer, one at least of said rotary members being electrically connected-With the line terminal.

in testimony of the foregoing specification I do hereby sign'the some in the city of New 'ork, county and State of New York, this 2nd. day of June, 1915.

HERMAN HANSEN.

Witnesses F. A. Wuuzmon. HENRY F. KrnL.

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