US2543119A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

W. C. MASON ELECTRIC SWITCH Feb. 27, 1951 Filed March 10, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

4 T TOP/V5 Y Patented Feb, 27, 195i UNiliEfi STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to switches for use on storage batteries such, for example, as the storage batteries with which motor vehicles, boats, aeroplanes, and the like, are quipped.

A switch, by means of which the operator of a motor vehicle may cut the storage battery out of the starting, lighting and ignition circuits, would be a very desirable accessory not onl when short circuits in the wiring develop but also when it is necessary to repair the wiring or to remove or install any instruments or other accessories which are normally connected to the battery. By cutting the battery out of the circuits at the battery itself, all danger of sparking, blown fuses, fused parts, and fires due to accidental short circuits, while working on the car, or when the car is parked or stored, is entirely eliminated. Furthermore, if the switch is of such design that the operating means may be positioned so that it is always within convenient reach of the operator, delays in cutting the battery in and out of the circuits will be avoided. Such a switch would be particularly useful in preventing fires where many cars are stored or parked in close proximity to each other by it quite impossible for disastrous short circuits to develop in any car equipped therewith, provided the switch is turned to the off position efore the car is left.

One of the objects of invention is to provide a simple, compact switch which may be attached directly to one of the terminals (preferably the grounded terminal) of a storage battery, thereby eliminating all live parts or conductors beyond the battery itself. Another object is to provide a switch of this character in the form of a comparatively small unit but which is capable of carrying, without overheating, the ver heavy currents necessary when the engine starting motor is being operated. Another object is to provide a storage battery switch which is exteriorly insulated substantially throughout, except for the terminals, so that the exposure of live elements is reduced to a minimum. A further object is to provide a switch of this character which may be easily manufactured, assembled and disassembled, and in connection with which a simple, remote control means may be installed in any one of various positions relative to said switch, depending upon the choice of the operator.

I accomplish these objects by means of the novel elements and the combinations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of all of the essential elements of my switch except the casing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the casing with certain portions broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection of the switch showing th various parts in assembled relation with the switch in the 01? position;

Fig. 4 is a section through the cylindrical element shown in Fig. '1 in the plane 4-4;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the switch in the on position; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation view of a storage battery showing my switch attached thereto.

Referring to the drawinga My switch comprises a cylindrical male element I, having the cylindrical surface thereof formed of two separate metallic elements 2 and 5 which are secured together by a core l of moldable, insulating material, such, for example, as Bakelite.

The inner faces of the elements 2 and 3 are provided with re-entrant portions 5 into which the moldable material flows and secures the parts together, as shown in Fig. i.

Cooperating with the cylindrical element i and forming a bearing in which said element floats are two female, substantially semi-cylindrical, jaw-forming elements 6 and l which, when in engagement with the element l, are slightly spaced from each other, as shown at 5 and 9 in Fig. 3. The element 6 is provided with a female terminal iii having an inverted, irusto-conical passage H therethrough adapted to fit over one of the terminals of a storage battery and to be clamped thereto by means of a clamping bolt (not shown) extending through the passage 52. The element 7 is provided, on the back, with a threaded stud I3 which is adapted to receive a frusto-conical male terminal Hi which is internally threaded, as shown at E5, and which is adapted to have clamped thereto the conductor l6 (see Fig. 6) which would normall be connected to the storage battery terminal but which is removed in order to attach the switch thereto.

I1 is the casing within which the various elements are assembled by simply sliding them therein through the open end l8 oi the casing. The rear of the wall of the casing is provided with a passage i9 which is somewhat larger in diameter than the shoulder ill on the stud l3 so that some play is provided therebetween.

The interior of the rear wall of the casing ii is provided with the lugs 2| and 22 which are provided at the top and bottom with steps 23 and 24, and fiat springs 25 and '26 are retained in place between the steps and the top and bottom, respectively, of the casing, as shown in Fig.

3. The rear wall of the element 7 is provided at the top and bottom with a central projection, such as shown at 2! in Fig. 1, which are designed to abut the springs and 26, as shown in Fig. 3. The side of the casing is also provided with a passage 28:;adapted topass the bifurcated, staple-.- like, operating element 29, shown in Fig. 1.

In assembling my switch, and assuming the casing to be held with the open end up, the springs 25 and 25 are first dropped into position. in the bottom of the casing; the element l is then 15 inserted and the male terminal I l threaded there-- on. The cylindrical element i, which floats be.-- tween the jaws of elements 5 and l, is then dropped into position in the element I and the element 6 is inserted in engagement with the element ,1. In. order to hold the parts in assembled relation, I .providetwopins 307 and 3t which pass through openings 32 and 33, respectively; in thesidesof the .casing and through the; passages 3G.and.iE5-, respectively, iii-the element 6.- When 1 the parts are loosely assembled as describe above;-.the passages in the element 9 not in precisealignment with the pin passages in the casing and it is I18QSStTytOilGTSS the element 6 firmly into the casing se-that the. fiat springs 25 and 25 are slightiy-iiexedfand stressed in order-- to'bring the pin passages in alignment with each other whereupon the. pins be simply pushed. intoplaceu, Because the springs 25 and 2e -are fiexed-.and;under-stress when theparts-are as-- sembled, it will be apparent that theiemale elements; 6 and"? are heldxin firm contact-with-the male element; l. Aier the parts are-assembled, the operating-element 29. is merelypushed-into. thepassages 3E and 2'! in the cylindrical 818-14 ment 1.

Secured to the element 29 is an index plate 55," preferably having an arrow 39 thereon. When the parts are :in the position ShOfi/ll'illjFlQ-Se: l and 3, theswitch is in the oi? position and the; arrow 39 will point upwardly. However, by rning the. cylindrical element clockwisethrcugh .an angle of 90, the switch will be the 'on posietion and the arrow will beinthe positiomshown inFig. 5. In order to provide positive stops at n the on and off positions, a projectiongtla having surfaces-fit. and 2'(see.-Figs.--2 and 15) which are normal to the :side of the casing, is: molded on theoutside of the casing adjacent the; upper left hand corner, as viewed in Fig.2. fw'hen the switch. is in the on position theindex abuts the surface 62, as shown in F1 5, and-when in the 01? position; it abuts the surface-d Inorder to attach my switch to the battery; it is only ry to remove one of the -con- I ductors 16 (see Fig. 6) from the, storage battery terminal and attach it to the male terminal :5 of. the switch, and then to attach thefemaletere minal id of the switch to the terminal or" .the. battery -1'romwvhich theconductor. Hi connected.

In order. to operate the switclrfrom-a remote point, I provide-a rod fill-having a hooked-end 2 thv which engages'in the operat ng element 29?.and: which may be provided at th other. end witlra 70 knurled button by which the rod 43 'andthe opera-ting element 29 may be turned. ThehOGKbdf end of the rod-43 and the e ement 29 cooperate to form .what is substantially a universalcoupling ac. pus

was dis-.

the positioning of the rod 43 and its button 45.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that, when the switch is in the on position, the stationary elements 6 and l are bridged and electrically connected at the top and bottom by the metallic elements 2 and 3 on the movable cylindrical element, and these elements may be made long enough and thick enough to provide an electrical connection of any desired cross sectional areabetween the elements 6 and I and to provide sufficient area of-contact between the stationary and movable elements to carry any current without over-heating.

Itwill also be apparent that, as distinguished from most other switches in which wear of the contacts impairs the operation and efficiency of the switch, the more my switch is used, the better the contacts become because any high points on thexcontacting surfaces will wear down and the elements will become substantially lap-fitted together; By reason of the facts that the cylindrical element l floats between the jaws of elements-6 and I, and these last mentioned ole-.- ments are relatively movable in the casing, these parts, which cooperate to conduct the current; through the. switch,- are self al gning, and;.thus perfect electrical contact is maintained between the jaws -.and .the. element 1 throughout the en-' tirecylindrical areas of the j aws.

While I have described my invention in. its. preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the. words which I hav used ar -words of: descriptionrather thanof limitation and that changes,. withinthe-piuview ofv the appended.- claims, may be made without departing fronr: the truescopeand spirit of my'inventicn inits broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising a casingi formedof insulating material, a pair of spaced;- metallic,jaw-forming elements within "rid oas ing'relatively movable towards anda .ay from. each other:- and laterally define, betweenrjaws, a substantially cylindrical spacey-a i...oating; cylinder rotatably mounted in said space .in cone-.1 tact with said jaw-forming elements and main-y taining said elements .in, slight'y spaced reel 1.. tion; at least:one of said jaw-forming elements being mounted. to float within said casing; and. said. cylinder-being mounted to float in all directions, whereby-said jaw-forming, elements. and. said cylinderare self-aligning, thereby. main-. taining substantially constant overall contact throughout their contacting areas; the surface; or" said. cylinder comprising two diametri c -ly op:-.. posed metal portionsv spaced by portions formed; of insulating.material; resilient means within said casing biased .to urge said jaw-iorming ele-a ments .intoclose contact with said cylinder to: form a bearing therefor, means extending-.1- through saidcasing and cooperati pwith said cylinder for manually rotating the s ie to bringthe metal portions of the surface oi said c into andout of contact witheach of forming elements-electrically to connect and connect the same, and means on each of said j aw-forming elements extending exteriorly of said casingandiorming a terminal of said sryitcha; one .o1"' said terminal forming means having a frusto-conical passage therethrough adapting it for direct attachment to a frusto-conical tfilini nai of a storage. battery.

2. A rotary switch adapted for direct attach-=- ment. to theterminalof a storage battery forso that considerable.latitudeis provided as;;to.-g00 n 0t n a y in and disconnecting tit from a circuit in which it forms the source of power; said switch comprising a casing formed of insulating material; a pair of relatively movable, metallic, jaw-forming elements closely but slidably fitted in said casing in opposed relation and laterally enclosing therebetween a substantially cylindrical space; a floating cylinder rotatably mounted in said space, with said elements forming a bearing therefor, and maintaining said elements in slightly spaced relation; at least one of said jaw-forming elements being mounted to float within said casing, and said cylinder being mounted to float in all directions around its longitudinal axis, whereby said jawforming elements and said cylinder are selfaligning, thereby maintaining substantially constant overall contact throughout their contacting areas; the surface of said cylinder comprising two, slightly spaced, substantially semi-cylindrical metallic portions electrically insulated from each other; resilient means in said casing cooperating with said floating jaw element and biased to maintain said elements and said floating cyl inder in close surface contact; means extending through said casing and cooperating with said cylinder for manually rotating the same to open and close said switch; and switch terminals exterior of said casing connected, respectively, to said jaw-forming elements.

3. A rotary switch adapted for direct attachment to the terminal of a storage battery for connecting said battery in and disconnecting it from a circuit in which it forms the source of power; said switch comprising a' casing formed of insulating material; a pair of metallic, jawforming elements closely fitted in said casing in opposed relation and laterally enclosing therebetween a substantially cylindrical space; a floating cylinder rotatably mounted in said space, with said elements forming a bearing therefor, and maintaining said elements in slightly spaced relation; one of said jaw-forming elements being rigidly mounted within said casing and the other of said jaw-forming element being mounted to float therein, and said cylinder being mounted to fioat around its longitudinal axis, whereby said jaw-forming elements and said cylinder are selfaligning, thereby maintaining substantially constant overall contact throughout their contacting areas; the surface of said cylinder comprising two, slightly spaced, substantially semi-cylindrical metallic portions electrically insulated from each other; resilient means in said casing cooperating with at least one of said elements and biased to maintain said elements and said floating cylinder in close surface contact; means extending through said casing and cooperating with said cylinder for manually rotating the same to open and close said switch; and switch terminals exterior of said casing connected, respectively, to said jaw-forming elements; one of said terminals being provided with a frusto-conical passage adapted to embrace the frusto-conical terminal of said battery for attaching said switch directly to said terminal.

WILLIAM C. MASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 1,136,406 Butts Apr. 20, 1915 1,173,609 Savage et a1. Feb. 29, 1916 1,541,015 Weeks June 9, 1925 1,615,106 Bethea Jan. 18, 1927 1,950,563 Miller Mar. 13, 1934 1,995,946 Schild Mar. 26, 1935 2,427,940 Ayres Sept. 23, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,917 Great Britain 1889 386,426 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1933

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