US2023219A - Oscillating snap switch - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1935. 'F. c. DE REAMER OSCILLA'IING SNAP SWITCH Filed Jan. 5, 1934 It \llll Hill i I J l lllll lll,

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIH Ihvehcor Fr'ahk C. De Reamer) H His AttOTnelj.

. contacts with a snap .ing the parts of Patented Dec. 3, 1935 'oscmmrme snar swrrcn Frank C. De Reamer, Bridgeport, Conn to General Electric New York alignm- Company, a corporation o! l Application January 3, 1934. Serial No; 705,055

Claims. (Cl. 200-70) This invention relates generally to switch mechanisms and is directed more particularly to switch mechanisms in which a continuous the switch to be rotatedover a series of switch action.

It is object of this invention to provide a switch of this type which is simple in construction and reliable in'its operation.

The invention will be more completely underomitted.

Referring now to the drawing, the-switch comprises a base I, a terminal plate 2, a cam mem J berl, aswcitch blade. aspring iandaswitch handle 6. v

The base I, which is constructed of Suitable insulating material, has disposed in openings therein three spaced contacts 1 arranged in an arc of a circle. The contacts are positioned in a recess 8 on the upper surface of the base I and each contact is fastened to the base by a plate 9, integral with the contacts and bearing against the surface of the recess 8, and by a spunover portion (not shown) bearing against the surface of a recess (not shown) individual to the contact on the bottom of the base. Each contact is provided with a threaded opening extending upwardly from the bottom of the contact contacts 1. I

A hollow spindle i0 is disposed in an opening of, and rigidly attached to, the base I. Mounted is the terminal plate 2 which is fastened to the base by a metal insert H. This insert, which is positioned in an opening in the terminal plate, has its lower end in the form of a plate (not shown) disposed in arecess in the bottom of the base I vided with a threaded opening into which a binding screw (not shown) is adapted to be positio-ned from the bottom of the base thus providing means for connecting a conductor to the terminal plate 2. This conductor and the conductors, connected to the contacts 1 are extended.

. tacts 1. The ope ings l2 and II in an are similar to that in which the contacts on the spindle in a manner not material to this invention, to the electrical device with" which. the switch is employed. The terminal plate 2 is-provided with three spaced openings I! each correspondingto one of the contacts 1 and a fourth opening I! 5 corresponding to a position of the switch'blade .l in which it is out of engagement with the contioned over a corresponding recess in the base I. It is to be understood that if additional contacts are disposed on the base, one additional opening in the terminal plate is provided for each added contact.. 16 I The cam ,or operating member 3 is mounted II which extends through open-' 88 I4 ,andJI therein. The cam member is provided with both a lower and an upper branch spaced from one another by the vertical wall It. i

The lower branch bears on the terminal plate 2 and is provided with the opening 14 and with the curved cam surface II. The upper flange is trough-shaped and is provided with the opening .II and the 4 the distance between their outside faces.

The switch handle is constructed of suitable insulating material and is provided with a pin, not shown, rigidly positioned in the composition of the handle and-with oppositely disposed flanges (notsilown) on either side of the pin. The distance between the innersurfaces of these flanges is sufficient to allow them to fit over the outside faces or over theends of the vertical flanges Din is positioned within the holand the flanges of the handle enclose either the outside faces or theends of the II the cam member may be manin either direction on the spindle It by turning the switch handle.

The switch blade 4 is mounted on the spindle III which extends through openings 2| and 2| therein. per and lower branches which are-disposed on the spindle within the upper and lower branches of the cam member I. The lower branch is provided with a channel-shaped contact portion 22 adapted to engage the contacts 1, depending pro-' jection 2: adapted to limit the'downward travel of the contact portion 22 of the switch blade when it moves on one of thecontacts 1, thusenabling it to ride up onto another contact when the switch blade is snapped: the opening II, a

la. When the dependingproiectionfladaptedtollidoontho vertical flanges I! which have substantially the same'length as The switch blade is provided 'with upv 2 cam surface l1 and a depending rider 2! riveted to the lower branch, and adapted to enter both ii of the terminal plate and the corresponding openings in the base I. The upper branch is provided with the opening 2| previously referred to.

when the cam 3, the switch blade 4 and the spring 5 are mounted on the spindle II the top of the spindle is spun over as shown at 21 to retain these elements in their assembled relation. when assembled on the spindle, the switch blade 4 is disposed within the branches of the cam 8 and the spring 5 within the branches of the switch blade presses the branches'thereof apart; while the ends 26 and 22 of the spring press against the edgesof the vertical wall I of the cam 3 and against the edges of the vertical wall of the switch blade 4 thereby rotatably coupling the cam and switch blade. The pressure on the lower branch of the switch blade causes the channel portion 22 or theblade 4 to be pressed downwardly to-make firm engagement with the contacts 1; the projection 24 of theblade to be operatively amociated with the cam surface l1 and the rider 25 to be pressed into one of the openings l2 or l3 of the terminal plate 2.

The operation of will now be briefly explained. let it be assumed that it is desired to move the switch blade 4 from the lowest contact 1, as shown in Fig. '2, to the next higher contact. It is to be noted that with the blade 4 in this position the rider 25 is positioned in the highest of the openings II of the terminal plates, though not the opening I! which corresponds to a blade position out of engagement with the contacts. The switch handle 8 is manually rotatedin the same direction as it is desired to, rotate the blade 4, that is, the switch handle is rotated in a counte loclrwise direction. The cam -3 is rotated by this movement of the switch handle but at first the blade 4 remains locked, as shown in Fig. 2, since the'rider 2' is positioned in the highest opening l2 by the pressure of the spring 5. As the cam lis rotated with the blade 4 locked, the edge of the vertical c'am wall I6 presses against the free end 28b! the spring while the other free end 26 of thespring it held by the I edge of the vertical wall of the blade 4, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The spring I is thus conditioned or put under tension to rotate the blade 4 with a snap action when the ridei' 25 is finally moved out of the terminal plate opening i2. The cam surface I1 is so designed that this does not take place until the projection 24 in the blade 4 is substantially near the outer end of the cam surface. The cam surface l'l lifts the projection 24 high enough to disengage the rider 25 from the opening l2 thus unlocking the blade 4. 'Ifhe edge 2t of the spring thereupon rotates the blade 4 and when the blade reaches the next higher contact I the spring forces the rider 25 into the next lower opening l2 thereby locking the blade 4 on the corresponding contact or the one just reached.

It is evident withoutfurther explanation that if the switch handle 6 is rotated far enough to cause the blade 4 to rotate .overseveral contacts,

the blade will be rotated in the manner described from contact to contact. During this movement of the blade, the rider 25 will be momentarily positioned in successive terminal plate openings l2 to lock the blade upon its'enga'gement with successive contacts, i-while the cam surface ll will cooperate w'iththe' projection 24 to move the rider an electrical food mixing device or maybe em- 5 ployed to control any electrical device with which it is desirable or necessary to use a switch having a snap action, From the foregoing description it is evident that the invention provides a switch structure in which a single spring serves to rotatably couple the switch blade with a cam rotated by the switch handle and also serves to operatively associate the means forlocking the blade on each of the switch contacts as well as the means for unlocking the blade from each of these contacts. As only a single spring is employed to control the moving parts of the switch, the switch is dependable in its operation and simple in its construction.

The invention is not to be restricted to the 2 particular form or arrangement of rparts hereinshown and described as it is evident that they may be changed or modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a switch mechanism, the combination 0 a base of insulating material provided with spaced contacts, a switch blade rotatable over the contacts,,spring means for rotating the blade and for pressing the blade against the contacts, means for locking the blade whenever it engages one of the contacts, and means for. tensioning the spring means whenever the blade is locked on one of the contacts and for freeing the blade for 5 rotation after the spring means is tensioned sufliciently to rotate the blade with a snap action.

2. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base of insulating material provided with spaced contacts and spaced stops, a switch blade, spring 40 means adapted to press the blade against and to rotate it over the contacts, a rider on the blade positionable in the stops under the pressure of the blade for locking the-blade whenever it engages one 0! the contacts, a rotatable cam for tensioning the spring meanswhenever the blade is locked on one of the contacts, and a projection on the blade, operatively associated with the cam by the pressure of the blade for disengaging the rider from the stops to free the blade for rotation after the spring means is tensioned sufliciently to rotate the blade with a snap action.

3. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base of insulating material having spaced contactaspaced stops and a spindle disposed thereon, said spindle having mounted thereon a ro tatable branched cam member, a branched switch blade disposed within the branches of the cam member and rotatable over the contacts, a spring disposed within the branches of the blade and rotatably coupling the blade and cam member, a rider on one branch of the blade, positionable in the stops under the pressure of the blade for locking the blade whenever it engages one of the contacts, anda projection on the same branch, 5 operatively associated with the cam member by the pressure ofthe blade, for moving the rider out of the stops to free the blade for rotation without interfering with the rotation of the blade after the spring means is tensioned sufiiciently by the rotation of the cam member to rotate the blade-with a snap action.

4. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base of insulating material provided with spaced contacts, a switch blade, spring means 76 adapted to press the blade against and to rotate it over the contacts, means operatively associated by the pressure of the blade for locking the blade against rotation whenever it engages one of the contacts, means for tensioning the spring means whenever the blade is locked on one of the contacts, and additional means, including the last mentioned means, operatively associated by the pressure of the blade, for freeing the blade for rotation after the spring means is sufliciently tensioned to rotate the blade with a snap action.

5. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base of insulating material having thereon spaced contacts and a terminal plate provided with spaced openings, a switch blade for connecting the terminal plate to and disconnecting it from the contacts, a rotatable cam, a spring pressing against the blade and rotatably coupling the blade and cam, a rider on the blade, positionable in the openings of the plate under the pressure of the blade for locking the blade whenever it engages one of the contacts, and a projection on the blade, operatively associated with the cam by the pressure oi! the blade, for disengaging the rider from the openings to free the blade for rotation after the spring is tensioned suillciently, by the rotation of the cam, to rotate the blade with a snap action.-

6. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base of insulating material having disposed thereon spaced contacts, a terminal plate provided with spaced openings and a spindle, said spindle having mounted thereon a switch blade for connecting the terminal plate to, and disconnecting it from, the contacts, a rotatable cam, and a spring pressing the blade against the contacts and rotatably coupling the blade and cam, a rider on the blade, positionable in the openings of the plate under the pressure of the blade for locking the blade whenever it engages one of the contacts, and a projection on the blade, operatively associated with the cam by the pressure of the blade, for disengaging the rider from the openings to free the blade for rotation after the spring is tensioned sufliciently by the rotation of the cam, to rotate the blade with a snap action..

7. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base of insulating material having disposed thereon spaced contacts, a terminal plate provided with spaced openings and a spindle, said spindle having mounted thereon a rotatable branched cam, a branched switch blade disposed within the branches of the cam for connecting the terminal plate to, and disconnecting it from, the contactsjand a spring disposed within the branches of the switch blade and rotatably coupling the blade and cam, a rider on one branch of the blade, positionable in the openings of the plate under the pressure of the same branch, forlocking the blade whenever it.engages one of the contacts, and a projection on the same branch, operatively associated with the cam by the pressure of the branch, for disengaging the rider from the openings to free the blade for rotation without interfering with the rotation of the blade after the spring is tensionedsuflicient- 1y, by the rotation of the cam, to rotate the blade with a snap action.

8. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base provided with spaced contacts, a switch blade rotatable over the contacts, a spring for rotating the blades and for pressing the blades against the contacts, means for positively looking the blade in the position whenever it engages one of the contacts, means for tensioning the spring, and means dependent upon the spring being tensioned sufliciently to rotate the blade with a snap action for positively freeing the blade for rotation. g

9. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base provided with spaced contacts and a spindle, a branched operating member rotatably mounted on said spindle, a switch blade disposed within the branches of said operating member, means including a spring disposed within the branches of said operating member and urging the blade against one of the branches of said operating member for holding the operating member and blade in assembled relation and for rotatably coupling the operating member and blade, means for locking the blade whenever it engages one of the contacts, means for tensioning the spring, and means dependent upon the spring being tensioned sufliciently to rotate the blade with a snap action for freeing the blade for rotation.

10. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base provided with spaced contacts and a spindle, a branched operating member rotatably mounted on said spindle, a switch blade disposed within the branches of said operating member, means including a spring disposed within the branches of said operating member and urging the blade against one of the branches of said operating member for holding the operating member and blade in assembled relation and pressing the blade against the contacts and for rotatably coupling the operating member and blade, means for locking the blade whenever it engages one of the contacts, means for tensioning the spring, and means dependent upon the spring being tensioned sufiiciently to rotate the blade with a snap action for freeing the blade for rotation.

- 11. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base provided with spaced contacts and a spindle, an operating member rotatably mounted on said spindle, a switch blade rotatably carried by said spindle, said switch blade having a separate flexible arm, means urging said flexible arm against stops for locking said blade in a position engaging one of said contacts, a spring for rotatably coupling said blade and said operating member and pressing said switch blade against said contacts, means for tensioning said spring, and means dependent upon the spring being tensioned sufliciently to rotate the blade with a snap action for positively freeing said flexible arm from said stops.

12. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base provided with a contact, a switch blade rotatably carried on said base, said switch blade having a separate flexible arm, means urging said flexible arm against stops for locking said blade into position, an operating member carried by said base, a spring for rotatably coupling said blade and said operating member, means for tensioning said spring, and means dependent upon said spring being tensioned sufliciently to rotate the blade with a snap action for lifting said flexible arm'away from said stops without interfering with the rotation of said switch blade.

13. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a base having disposed thereon spaced contacts, spaced stops, and a spindle, said spindle having mounted thereon a rotatable branched cam member, a branched switch blade disposed within the branches of the cam member and ro-, tatable over the contacts, a spring disposed within the branches of the blade for rotatably coupling the blade and cam member, a flexible arm on one branch of the blade having a rider biased into engagement with said stops for locking the blade whenever it engages one of the contacts, and means on said cam member operatively associated with the flexible arm for moving the rider out of engagement with the stops to free the blade for rotation after the spring means is tensioned sufficiently to move the blade with a snap action.

14. In a switchmechanism, the combination of a base having disposed thereon spaced contacts, a terminal plate provided with spaced openings and a'spindle, said spindle having mounted thereon a switch blade for connecting the terminal plate to, and disconnecting it from the contacts, a rotatable cam, and a spring rotatably coupling the blade and cam, a flexible arm on the blade having a rider biased into the openings of the terminal plate for locking the blade whenever it engages one of the contacts, means on the cam operatively associated with the flexible arm for disengaging the rider from the openings to free the blade tor rotation after the spring camjto rotate the'blade with abnap'action.

15. In a switch mechanijsm', the ;cornbination of a base having disposed jthereon 'spac'ed 'con- 5 tacts, a terminalplate providedwith spaced'opjem ings and a spindle, spindle;havingfmonnted thereon a rotatable ibranchedi cam, a branched 'switch blade disposedfwithin the branches of the cam for connectingtlie 'ternnnalplate to' and i0 disconnecting it'rrpm; the contacts and a spring disposed within p the branches of the switch blade and rotatably coupling the" made'am' cam, a

flexible arm onone branchof the blade having a rider biasedinto he"openings of the terminal 15 plate for locking the blade w'henever' it engages 7 one of the contacts; and means onsa'idfcamoperatively associated with thejflexible arm for disengaging the rider 'frorntheiope'nings to frethe blade for rotation afterithe spring is tensioned 20 sufficiently by rotation offthe cam to rotate the blade with a snap'actiQn R 'Q-DER AMEB

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