US2190299A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Q Feb. 13, 1940. H. VAN V'ALKENBURG 2,190,299

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1940- H. 1.. VAN VALKENBURG 2,190,299

ELEcTIc SWITCH Filed Feb. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I5s./ I /4 INVENTOR. #9717021 krz/Z llezzizzg A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Hermon L. Van Valkenburg, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan This invention relates to devices for making and breaking electric circuits and more particularly to electric switches of the push-button type.

One object of this invention is to provide an electric switch of the push-button type of simple form in which the operating push-button or plunger is resiliently connected to the movable contact to be movable relative thereto and to maintain a resilient contact pressure in the pressed position of the push-button.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric switch of the push-button type which shall be substantially enclosed and in which the stationary contacts shall have portions inside and outside of the enclosure and have surfaces slidably interlocked with surfaces within the interior of the switch and maintained in position by a cover plate permitting ready sliding removal 20 of the stationary contacts upon removal of the plate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a standardized form of electric switch of the push-button type providing a plurality of termi- 26 nal connector positions and utilizing stationary contacts carrying terminal connections which are interchangeable and in which all parts except the stationary contacts are standard to all the forms of the switch and with the body portion 80 of the switch provided with means cooperating with the terminal connectors 'in their various positions. H

Other objects and features of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the 85 art from the following'specification and appended drawings illustrating certainpreferred embodiments of the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an electric switch according to the present invention.

40 Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the electric switch shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 2 but with the parts broken away to show internal mechanism. 45 Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the parts in position with thepush-button depressed.

Figure 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the switch. 50 Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the'line VI-VI of Figure '4. Figure 7 is a front elevational view of a slightly modified form of switch particularly adapted for .use as an interlocking switch and showing a 56 modified terminal arrangement.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the switch shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but with parts broken away to show internal parts.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the modi- 5 fied switch.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 8 but showing a modified terminal arrangement.

rangement. 15

The switch shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises a body portion I which may be comprised of molded insulating material and provided with a pair of hollow extensions 2 and 3 at its front corners. A chamber 4 is provided substantially centrally of the body portion and is provided with an open side as shown. Upon the front and back surfaces of the chamber are disposed stationary contacts 5, 6, I and 8. These surfaces of the chamber are provided with ridges 9 and H and with notches I2 slidably interlocking the surfaces on the stationary contact and preventing movement thereof in any direction other than toward the open side of the chamber.

A cover plate l3, attached by studs l4, closes the chamber 4 and engages with notched surfaces on the stationary contacts to maintain them in position within the chamber. Within the chamber 4 and between the opposed pairs of stationary contacts is mounted a contact plate 15 having opposite contact faces at its ends adapted to bridge the respective pairs of stationary contacts. The central portion of the contact plate is provided with an opening which loosely receives a hollow cylindrical member l6 having a flange ll disposed at one end thereof. Through the cylindrical member l6 extends a cylindrical portion Won the operating plunger or push-button. The back face of the back wall of the body portion l is provided with an opening I!) adapted of the contact plate I5 and the abutment formed by the enlargement 2|. The front face of the body portion is apertured to slidably receive the portion 2| on the plunger.

The projections 2 and 3 at the front of the body portion have large openings at one side and apertures for attaching screws at their front and opposite side. The attaching screws may be threaded directly into these apertures or may be threaded into metallic inserts or nuts placed in the hollow portion of the extensions and there waxed in place. In the form shown in the drawings, the attaching studs 30 have been placed at the front of the projections and a cover .plate 25 is, shown in place surrounding and guiding the portion 22 on the push-button plunger. A cotter pin or other limiting means 26 extending beyond the push-button 22 may be provided to prevent outward removal thereof. When the push button is installed in an enclosing box, the cover plate 25 may be omitted' and its place taken by the wall of the box against which the push-button switch is mounted.

As shown in Figures 1 to-6, inclusive, the stationary'contacts 5 and 6 have straight extensions terminating in terminal connectors 21 and 28 and the stationary contacts I and 8 have angle extensions terminating in terminal connectors 29 and 3|.

The operationof the push-button as shown and described should be readily apparent. the normal position of the push-button is shown more particularly in Figure 3 in which the contact plate i5 is held in position bridging the contacts 5 and 6 by spring 23. As the pushbutton is depressed the enlargement 2| positively engages the cylindrical member l8 and pushes it toward the rear wall of the body portion, thus compressing the spring 23. After the contact plate is engages the bridging contacts 1 and 8,

further movement 01' the push-button will move the flange H on the member I6 away from the contact plate l5 and the spring 24 will be compressed to exert contact pressure between the contacts on plate l5 and the stationary contacts and 8 in the position shown in Figure 4. Upon release of the push-button the parts'will resume the position shown in Figure 3,

It is understood, of course, that should a single throw switch be desired either pair of cooperating stationary contacts may be omitted to secure single throw normally "on or normally "ofl" operation.

One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a standardized switch pro viding multiplicity of terminal connector positions by utilizing a large number of common ard body pdrtion the back and top and bottom' exterior walls of the body portion are provided with recesses -22 more particularly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. In the switch of applie cants invention all partsexcept the stationary contact and terminal connector elements are standard to the various iorms and only these stationary contacts need be interchanged to proaioaaoa 'the shape of the interior portion of the stationary contact remains the same as it is only the exterior portions which are varied to place the terminal connectors at various positions with respect to the body portion of the switch.

While certain positions are illustrated, it is obvious that the exterior portions of the contact elements may take various other shapes and that various combinations may be used to produce any desired terminal arrangement.

The switch structure illustrated in Figures '7 to 13, inclusive, is in all respects the same as that specifically described heretofore except that the portion 22 of the push-button plunger and the plate 25 are omitted and the cylindrical portion 18 is extended through the back wall and is there provided with a split washer or other retaining means 33 preventing withdrawal of the plunger. This switch while also of the pushbutton type, is especiallyadapted for use as an auxiliary switch which may be attached to a contactor or automatic starter or similar electrical device and mechanically operated by an arm or bar movable with the main switch and may be used to provide electrical interlocking for the main switch.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically. disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch of the push-button type comprising spaced stationary contacts, a contact plate adapted to bridge said stationary contacts, an element slidably projecting through said plate and having a flange at one end engageable therewith, a spring biasing said flange against said plate and said plate to one operating position, an operating plunger having an abutment engaging said member for movement against said bias, and a second spring disposed between said plunger abutment and said contact plate and providing resilient pressure on said plate in a second operating position under the influence of said plunger.

2. An electric switch of the push-button type comprising opposed pairs of spaced stationary contacts, a' movable contact plate adapted to bridge said pairs of contacts in its extreme positions,-a hollow cylindrical element slidably proiecting through said plate and having a flange at oneend engageable therewith,- a spring biasing said flange against said plate and said plate against one pair of stationary contacts, an operating plunger having a cylindrical portion disposed in said element and an abutment positively engageable with the end of said element remote from its flange, and a second spring disposed between said abutment and said contact plate and exerting a resilient pressure between said plate and the other, pair of stationary contacts in th depressed position of said plunger. HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG.

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