US1269419A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

F. P. GATES.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

wmcanow FILED AUG.25. \915.

Patented J 11116 11, 1918 UNITED STATES PNIENT OFFICE.

FREDEEIC P. GATES, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROW ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SXVITCH.

Application filed August 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnosmo P. Germs, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at Hartford, in the county of Hart ford and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

Myinventioirrelates to electric switches and articularly to multi-circuit switches, the oiiject of my invention being to provide on improved switch mechanism of this type which may be conveniently employed for example to control independently the several lights of an electrolicr group, although obviously the switch may be used for any purpose for which it is adapted.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a switch in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective of certain of the switch parts;

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 55, Fig. 2; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspectives of details.

In multi-circuit installations such as lighting circuits comprising several lamp groups. various switch devices have been employed to control the groups independently from a single switch mechanism. Perhaps the most common switch for this purpose is a. rotary snap switch having a plurality of contact plates with wings variously arranged to (on nect the terminals of the lighting groupin predetermined relation. Such a. switch however necessitates the successive connection of the several groups both in attaining the lighting group which it is desired to use and in the eventual breaking of the circuit hen it is desired to extinguish the ligh. In certain cases two push button switches have been employed in which one rotary switch plate, operated by a ratchet mechanism, is employed to malre the successive connections, while another switch plate of oscillating motion is employed to interrupt or make the connection through the switch, as a whole. This mechanism is clu-msy a inconvenient since it is not only necessary to operate the switch in such mannet as to make the successive connections through the several groups in order to attain the desired lighting group, but it also in Specification cl Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1918.

Serial No. 7,353.

volvcs cutting out the li hting circuit through the oscillating switcIi bar, on each change in the lighting group. In still other switches, a plurality of push buttons are employed to effect the connections for the several combinations, while a single button serves to open the circuit (see Mann 876.907). But as in the switches previously mentioned, the circuit must he completed successively through the several combinations in order to obtain the last one, although in this construction, (as in the rotary snap switch) there is no interruption of the lighting circuit between each change save such as is inherent in the shifting of the contact blades from one position to an other. A switch of this character, however. is expensive to construct, unsightly in ap pearance and unsatisfactory to operate, since, in a dark position, it is ditficult to see which of the several buttons should. be pushed first, as the mechanism requires for its operation.

By the present invention, I have provided a combination switch having a switch blade controlling the connection of the Switch as a whole with the main, and inde endent means for controlling the several ighting button switch and adapted to be mounted in an outlet box by means of a yoke 11 secured to the up er face of theswitch body by the screw bo ts 12 piercing the opposite ends of the latter. Depressed ledges 13 at opposite ends of the insuletin body support the several wire termina s 14;, 15. -16 and 17; -The 'swiph is of the single pole type and but one ain is connected thereto, vie, at 14.

.Theinterior of the switch body .is divided, by an integral partition 18, mtotwo switch chambers 19 and 20, the former containing the switch :by means of which conhcction from the main is established to the second chamber 20, in which is arranged the switch which controls the various lig iting circuit combinations. The line switch here shown comprises 21 switch bar 21 udeptcd in the on position of the switch to sun the space between the downwardly angled lug 22 integral with the base plate of the binding screw 1+1 end the coopcreb ing switch terminal 23 which, in the form of an angled strap, leads from the switch chamber 19 to the switch chamber wherein it presents two terminals 24; and 25 at difl'erent levels, for cooperation with the lighting circuit switch therein.

The line switch mechanism in the chamber 19 may be of an suitable type. I have here shown it as o. the push button type described in the Peterson Patent 956,161, without the return spring (15) however. It embodies a switch arm 26 carrying the Ushaped switch bar 21 at one end and pivoted on the spindle 27 at its other end. The spindle 27 is mounted in a frame 28 secured to the base of the insulating body 10 by the screws 29 andhm ing offset stops 30 which limit the extent of oscillation of the switch arm 26. A rocker bar 31 is pivotally connected to the shank 32 of the push button 33 and is journaled on the spindle 27. At its free end the rocker bar 31 carries a perforated abutment 34 against which bears oneend of the switch spring 35 and through which passes the guide'pin 36 for the spring. The opposite end of the pin has a T-head 37 which engages in a slot 38 in the shank of the switch arm 26. On the depression of the ush button, the rocker 31 forces one on of the switclr spring 35 past the axis of oscillation 27 of t e switch arm 26 and at the same time compresses the spring 35, with the result that as soon as the axial point is passed, the spring expands and thrusts the switch arm 26 upward, thus establishing the circuit between the switch terminals 22 and '23.

The switch in chamber 19 being thus closed, the current is now led through terminal 23 to the terminals 24 and 25 in switch chamber 20. In addition to these terminals 24 and 25, in switch chamber 20, there are in the present construction three other switch terminals in this chamber viz., 39, 40 and 41. The terminals 39 and 40 are on the. some level with the lower terminal 25, connected with 23, while the terminul 41 is on the level of the u iper terminal 24. connected with terminal 2d. The terminal 39 is here formed as the offset lower end of the strap 42, the upper end of which forms the terminal plate for the binding screw 15. The switch terminal 40 in like manner forms the angled lower end of the strrtp 43, the upper end of which forms the base plnte for the wire terminal 16. The switch terminal 1 connected by screw 44 (Fig. 7) with a strap 45 let into the lower are of the insulnting body 10 and con nccted by It screw bolt 46 to the terminal plate of the bindin r screw 17.

1n n. manner well understood in the art, three independent lighting circuits are sevcrall connected to the three wire terminals 15, 1t) and 17. Thus in an electrolier hnrin seven lights, one light may be broug it into the circuit by the wire connected nt 15, three may be connected by the wire leedin to the terminal 16, and the remaining tiree may be connected by the wire leadln to the terminal 17. Any other desired com inntion may of course be connected up to the terminals 15, 16 and 17 and in feet another wire terminal ma if desired, be connected to the terminals 24-25.

Cooperatin with the several terminals of the switch c amber 20 is a rotary snap switch mechanism comprising a pair of switch plates 47 and 48 of any desired predetermined number of contact wings, mount-- ed on a common switch spindle and operated by a snap switch mechanism, not shown, since it is of common type. The switch plates are electrically connected together, although spaced vertically apart. The upper plate 47 as here shown has but a, single contact wing 49, and is arranged at the level of the switch terminals 24 and 41: The lower switch plate 48 is rovided with three contact wings 50, 51 an 52 and is arranged at the level of the terminals 25, 39 and 40. The connection between terminals 25 and 39, which may be called combination A, is secured through switch wings and 51; 51 being in contact with the lower terminal 25, while 50 is in contact with the terminal 39. The terminal 52 at this moment will underlie the raised terminal 41, while the raised switch her terminal 49 will overlie the switch terminal 40. The connection between terminals 25 and 40 (combination B) is secured, in the next position of the switch, by the terminals 50 end 52 which span the space between the terminals 25 and 40, whileithe switch wing 51 underlies the terminal" 41, and the wing 49 overlies the terminal 39. This is the 'osition illustrated in the draw ing. The t ird combination (A and B together) is established through the switch wing 49 which now en ages the upper terminal 24, while the swite wings'51and 52 en gage the terminals 39 and 40, while the switch wing 50 underlies terminal 41. The fourth combination (A, B and C together) is secured in the succeeding position of the switch, in which the switch win 49 now contacts with the terminal 41, w iile wing 52 engages the lower terminal 25 and the wings 50'and 51 engage the terminals 39 and 40, thus bringing into circuit all three lighting connections.

As previously stated, the switch plates 47 and 48 are mounted upon a common spindle and operated by a snap switch mechanism of ordinary type. The switch spindle 53 and its button 54 however, are of novel con- ,struction. The spindle 53 embodies an upwardl y extended shank of non-circular cross -section and on which is slidably engaged the switch button 54, which has a. well'of suitable depth opening to its lower face to receive the upper end of the spindle. A fer- '1 rule rigid with the lower end of the butten 34 has a non-circular aperture through which the spindle passes, and is also provided with an external annulus 56 in which engage the inwardly extending pins 57 at "one end of the rocker bar 58. The latter is pivoted on the pin 59 extending between the downwardly angled lugs 60 of the yoke 11 and engages at its opposite end the cross pin 61 of the shank 32 of the push button It is obvious that through this arrangement the depression of the switch button 54 serves to shift the rocking lever 58 and thus to lift the button 33 and throw the live "switch 21 into of? position, breaking conuection to the terminals 24'25 of the light? idg switch. In either out or in position of the switch button 54, however, the engagement of the latter with the spindle 53 is maintained and the button 54 may be To tated to bring the switch plates 47 and 48 to the desired position, since the engagement 1 of thepins 57, with the annulus 56 in the ferrule 55, permits the button 54 to swivel with relation to the rocker bar 58 at any time and whatever its position.

Thus the desired combination for the lighting circuit may be established by the rotation of the switch button 54 while the latter is in its in position and the lighting circuit thereafter completed by pushing in the button 33 and thus throwing the switch bar 21 into on position.

Obviously the circuit may be broken, irrespective of the position of the switch plates 47 and 48 by merely pushing the button 54 in, this throwing the rocker bar 58 in a direction to open the circuit at 21.

The switch button 54'thus acts in a dual capacity as one membcr of a two-button push switch and as the rotary operating key for a snap switch. In order to facilitate its use as a snap-switch key,'the outer end of the button 54 is preferably made non-circular, while the lower portiom. which passes through the usual hole in the cover plate (not shown) is maintained in its usual cylindrical form tofill the face plate aperture and thus to prevent the entry of dust or dint ,into the switch chamber.

Furthermore, to assist in determining the position, of the switch plates 47 and 48 for the desired lighting con'lbination while the main switch 21 is still oil, I prefer to provide some suitable indicating device to Show the position of the switch plates. This may be accomplished in various ways, a-simple one being by means of indicia or numerals on the end of the push button, as indicated at 62,.

It is obvious that the switch may be used to control other multi-circuits than lighting circuits without departing from my invention and also that various modifications and details may be made without departing from what I claim as my invention. 1

I claim asmy invention: Y

1. An electric switch device, comprising a switch mechanism, a pair of push buttons for operating the same, one of said buttons being susceptible of rotation, an independent switch mechanism and an o erative connection between the latter an -said rotary push button. i

2. An electric 'switch device, Switch mechanism, for operating the same, one oflsaid buttons being susceptible of rotation, ent switch mechanism and an operative connection between the latter and said rotary push button, said connection being operative ineither out or in position. of the said push button.

3. An electric switch device comprising a switch mechanism, a pair of push buttons for operating the same, an independent switch mechanism having a rotary operating spindle, an operative connection between one of said push buttons and said operating spindle, said push button being capable of rotation to actuate said spindle.

4. An electric switch device comprising an insulating body recessed to form independent switch chambers, a carrying yoke spanning said chambers, independent switches mounted in said chambers, and an oscillating rocker-carried by said yoke, together with mean for independently operating both switches nd engaging said rocker.

5. An electric switch devicepcomprising an oscillating push button switch, and a comprising a a pair of push buttons an independrotary snap switch, a pairof piish buttons for operating the former and an operative connection between one of said buttons and the rota snap switch, said button being susceptib e of rotation to actuate the latter.

6. An electric switch device comprising a push button switch, a rock lever and a. pair of push buttons for operating the same, a swiveling engagement between one of said buttons and the rock lever, in combination" operating means for both switch mechanisms, said operating means serving to actuate either switch without affecting the other, and irrespective of the position of the other.-

8. An electric switch device comprising an insulating base, a air of snap switches arranged in series t ereon, one of said switches comprising a push button mechanism, and the other a rotary snap switch mechanism, together with a common operating means for both switches, said operating teriqr divided by an integral means serving to actuate either switch'withput affectingthe other, and irrespective of its position.

. 9. An electric switch device comprising a cup sha ed insulating-base, having its martition into a pair of switch chambers, a ine wire termmal extending into one of said chambers, .21 series of branch wire terminals arranged in the other switch chamber, a common terminal for bothvchambers, an oscillating switch servin 1n connect the line wire terminal with t common terminal, a rotary switch serving to connect said commenterminal with several branch terminals, and means for operating said oscillatin and rotar switch mechanisms indepen ently of see other.

10. An electric switch device com rising an insulating base, a pair of single-p0 e-snap switches mounted thereon in series, a line connection to one of said switches, a plurality of branch circuits connected to the other switch and means common to said switches for operating the same independently of one another.

11. An electric switch device com rising a switch mechanism, a pair of push uttons for operating the same, a second independent switch mechanism and an operative connection between one-of said push buttons and the second switch m gfor operating the latter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the vpresence of two subscribm witnesses.

F DERIC P. GATES. Witnesses:

Bmw. Pmms, Enrrn Promo.

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