US1284491A - Switch-operating mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

W. THIEDE.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLlCATKON nmuuucza. 1915.

1,284,491. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

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WILLIAM THIEDE, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed June 23, 1916. Serial No. 105,383.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM THIEDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch- Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in switch operating mechanism, and the object of my improvement is to produce a switch for electrical use for making and breaking the connections for electrical circuits and in which the operation of the switch, involving turning the same on and off, is efiected by means of a key, and involving positive means of operation together with means for preventing tampering with the switch or accidental disturbance of the setting of the same in the open or closed position as desired.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a front elevation of my improved key controlled switch.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the cover.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation with the cover removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 00 w of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the rotating member, the adjacent parts being indicated by broken lines.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same with the parts in a. different position.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the blank for the locking plate.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3/ 3 of Fig. 4.

My improved key-controlled switch comprises a box-like cover 10 on the front wall of which is mounted a key-operated lock 11 and switch mechanism housed within the said cover 10 and which is operated by means of a key inserted in the key slot 12.

Screws 13 passing through the top and bottom walls of the cover 10 serve to positively hold the cover 10 in position relatively to the said switch mechanism. Means are provided however to prevent the removal of the cover 10 even after the screws 13 are removed except at a certain position of the lock 11, and which position can only be obtained by the use of the key, whereby access to the mechanism is controlled by the key, and the manner of doing this will be described.

The switch mechanism is mounted on a base 14, which may be made of porcelain or other insulating material. The cover screws 13 engage with metal straps 15 that are secured to the base 14. The said straps 15 are of U-shape, let into correspondingly shaped grooves 16 in the base 14, comprising a yoke portion 17 extending across the back of the base and short parallel branch arms 18 that extend across the sides, of the said base. The cover screws 13 engage with the branch arms 18.

The U-shaped strips 15 constitute skeleton frames. Screws 19 hold the said frames 15 in place, the said screws passing from the rear forwardl through holes in the middle of the yokes 1;, the head portion of the said screws engaging with the said yoke 17. The said screws 19 pass through suitable holes in the base 14 and have the nuts 20 on the front ends.

The screws 19 also serve to hold the looking frame 21 in place on the front face of the base 14, the said plate 21 having a pair of lateral arms 22, provided with suitable holes for receiving the screws 19, the said arms 22 being interposed between the nuts 20 and the base 14. Y

The lock 11 is of the well known type, comprising a fixed body portion 23 projecting forwardly from the front plate 24 of cover 10 in the form of a circular boss, and provided at the lower portion, below the center, with the barrel 25, having the key-slot 12, and which is rotated by means of a key of a particular form inserted in the said key slot 12. On the inside of the cover 10 the barrel 25 is provided with a cam 29 in the form of a radially directed finger which serves as the means for cooperation of the L barrel can be turned only by means of the key. The key slot extends radially from the center of the barrel 25 to one side only. The

key is removable only when the key and keyslot are in one position, which position 1 have adjusted the parts to correspond to and have selected as the position which is vertical and extends downwardly from the center of the barrel, corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position of the barrel the radial cam finger 29 is atthe top, or turned 180 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 3. Furthermore, I have made this position of the barrel correspond to the position of either on or otl for the electrical contact devices of the switch mechanism.

Furthermore, in such on and -off positions of the switch the cover is nonremovable.

The cover is removable only when the cam 29 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, being the lowermost position, and in which position the barrel and key-slot are turned 180 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1, the key-slot being vertical, and in the uppermost position. The key is non-removable from the lock in the position described for the removal of the cover 10, wherefore the cover 10 and the key must be removed together as a unit. and the removal. of the cover is controlled by the particular key that is adapted to the lock 11.

The body portion of the locking frame :21 is in spaced relation to the moving member to be described and is provided with a keyhole opening comprising a circular portion 26 of suflicient size to admit the circular rear end portion 28 of the barrel 25 and in registration therewith and a radial recess 27 opening outwardly from the said circular portion 26 of suiiicient size to admit the cam 29 when in registration therewith. The radial recess 27 is vertical. and directed downwardly from the circular portion 26, wherefore the cam 29 can be entered through the same only when in a corresponding position, which is the position shown in Fig. 3 and as described is the position in which the key is non-removable.

lVith the cam in the position shown in the said Fig. 3 the cover can be placed in position over the base ll and the mechanism supported thereby. then the key can be turned, bringing the cam 29 under the b0( y portion of the lot-king plate 21, thereby locking the cover in position, and when the key has been turned 180 degrees, bringing the barrel to the position shown in Fig. l the key can be removed.

lhe cover screws 13 can be laced in position either before the key is removed or afterward, as desired. The said screws serve to prevent the accidental or unintentional removal of the cover While operating the switch mechanism by means of the key.

The fixed electrical contacts as shown comprise a set oi? four individual contacts, arranged in pairs, suitably to be inter-connected or dis-connected by meansof a pair of sector blades 30. Thus the two contacts on each side 01 the vertical axis are spaced suitably to be inter-connected by the said blade 30, and the spacing at the top and bottom between the two upper and the two lower contacts is appreciably greater than the width of the said blades 30, so that when the blades are in the vertical position there will be ,a break between the blades and the said contacts.

- The individual; contacts 31 are directed radially, being housed in suitable channels 32 in the base 14:, and comprise each astrip of metal, the body portion of which is perforated to receive a pairof securing bolts or screws 33, and are held. in place by nuts 3t, one of which serves as terminal nut. to hold the line wire.

The inner ends of the contacts 31 are split, providing a pair of fingers, one of which, shown as 35, is oil-set toward the front, and the other, 36, is o'd -set toward the rear, the spacing being suitable to permit the fingers and 36 to serve as spring contact members on the opposite faces of the sector blade 30.

The locking plate 21 comprises the body portion which has the key-hole slot as described, the branch arms 22 extending laterally from the said body portion, which are held in place by the screws 19, and may have a pair of vertically directed arms 37 as additional securing means, held in place by the screws 38 and Q9. The locking plate is furthermore provided with a pair of lugs 40 extending rearwardly from the body portion at the upper portion, one on each side of the upper arm 37, that serve as stop lugs for the rotating member. Y 7

The base 14 has a circular recess 2 in which the moving member is housed, and is provided with a stud ll projecting into the said space or recess 42 on which the said moving member is rotatively mounted.

The said rotating member comprises a body portion 43 consisting of a block of fiber or other suitable insulating material of annular form, having a hole at fitting the stud ll, and having at about the middle a circular groove l5 extending inwardly from the periphery. The sector blades 30 are fan shaped, having each a curved inner edge to conform to the inner wall of the groove 45 that fits against the same. and are fixedly held in place by a pair of rivets 46.

Mounted on the front face of the body portion or block 43 is a latch member 47 of peculiar form, comprising a sector shaped mam part 48, having a hole for receiving the holding screw as, the outer corners 50 of which are slightly depressed and embedded in the material of the body portion d3, serv ing as a born or fingers to positively position the said latch member 47.

The said main part l8 projects in front of the face of the body portion at and is in the path of the cam 29, suitably to be engaged thereby, and through such engagement to serve as the means for turning the moving member when the barrel 25 is turned by the key.

Projecting outwardly from the middle of the outer periphery of the main part 48 is a lug 51 that is in the same plane as the stop lugs 40 on the locking plate 21.

As the cam 29 is turned it engages with one edge or the other of the main part 48 and turns the moving member accordingly, the extent of such movement being limited by the engagement of the radial stop lug 51 on the latch member 47 with stop lugs 40 on the locking plate 21. In such limited position the sector blades 30 are in position either to bridge each a pair of individual contacts 31 corresponding to the -on position of the switch or at the intermediate or otfposition, according to the particular direction that the cam 29 has been moved by the key.

As described, the key-controlled cam on the lock serves as the means for throwing the switch on and ofii and also as the means for preventing the removal of the cover when in either of these positions.

Also, the key is non-removable from the look when the cover is removable from the base and is removable only when the switch is in such on or off position.

The switch mechanism is positively locked in both the on and 0H positions by locking means comprising on one side the cam in cooperation with one side edge of the latch member and on the other side the finger lug on the latch member in engagement with one of the stop lugs on the locking plate.

I claim as my invention l. A key-controlled mechanism comprising a rotatively operated, key-controlled cam, and mechanism cooperating with the said cam, the said mechanism comprising a base having a stud, a moving member rotatively mounted on the said stud, stops for limiting the movement of the said moving member, and a latch member on the said moving member for alternative engagement with one side or the other of the said cam.

2. A key-controlled mechanism comprising a rotatively operated, key-controlled cam, and mechanism cooperating with the said cam, the said mechanism comprising a base having a stud, a moving member rotatively mounted on the said stud, stops for limiting the movement of the said moving member, a latch member on the said moving member for alternative engagement with one side or the other of the said cam, and a cover serving as the support for the said cam and inclosing the said mechanism.

3. A key controlled mechanism comprising a cover, a key-controlled cam supported by the said cover, mechanism housed in the said cover and comprising a base, a moving member rotatively mounted on the said base, and a locking plate supported by the said base and having the body portion in spaced relation to the said moving member, the said cam being housed in the space between the said locking plate and moving member, and a latch member mounted on the said moving member and cooperating with the said cam.

a. A key-controlled mechanism comprising a cover, a radially directed cam rotatively mounted on the said cover, mechanism housed in the said cover, comprising a base, a locking plate and a moving member housed between the said base and plate, the body portion of the said plate being generally in spaced relation to the said moving member, and the said body portion having a key-hole slot for admitting the said cam to the space between the said body portion and the moving member.

5. A. key-controlled mechanism comprising a cover, a radially directed cam rotatively mounted on the said cover, mechanism housed in the said cover, comprising a base, a locking plate and a moving member housed between the said base and plate, the body portion of the said plate being generally in spaced relation to the said moving member, the said body portion having a lrey-hole slot for admitting the said cam to the space between the said body portion and the moving member, means on the said moving member for being engaged with the said cam, and means for limiting the movement of the said moving member.

6. A key-controlled mechanism comprising a base, having astud, a moving member mounted on the said stud, a latch member mounted on one face of the said moving member and having a radial stop finger, a locking plate mounted on the said base, the body portion of the said plate being opposed to the said face of the moving member and covering the said latch member, a cover inclosing the said base. a lock mounted on the said cover comprising a rotating barrel and a radial cam on one end of the said barrel, and the said body portion having a key hole opening for receiving the said end of the said barrel.

7. A key controlled mechanism comprising in combination a base, a stud fixedly supported by the said base, a rotating member mounted on the said stud, a latch plate on the face of the said rotating member and a radial lug also on the said member, a pair of fixed stops in spaced relation and in line with the radial lug, a cover fitting over the said base, a key operated barrel mounted on the said cover and provided on the inner end with a radial cam, and the said cam being in the same plane as the said latch plate, and adapted to engage alternatively with one edge or the other thereof suitably to move the said plate so as to engage with one or the other of the said fixed stops.

8. A key controlled mechanism comprising in combination a base, a stud. fixedly supported by the said base, a rotating member mounted on the said stud, a latch plate on the face of the said rotating member and a radial lug also on the said member, a pair of fixed stops in spaced relation and in line with the radial lug, a cover fitting over the said base a key operated barrel mounted. on the said cover and provided on the inner end with a radial cam, and the said cam being in. the same plane as the said latch plate, and adapted to engage alternatively with one edge or the other thereof suitably to move the said plate so as to engage with one or the other of the said fixed stops, a frame seri' ing as a support for the said fixed stops, the body portion of the said frame having a key-hole slot for admitting the said end of the barrel and cam when in one relative position. and for preventing the removal of the said cover in other positions.

9. In a key controlled switch, a base, a stud, and a stop fixedly supported by the said base, a rotating member mounted on the said stud, a key-controlled barrel having a radial. cam, a latch plate mounted on one face of the said rotating member and provided with a radial lug, and means for fixing the position of the said rotating member comprising in cooperation the said cam in inseam engagement with one edge of the said plate and the said fixed stop in engagement with the said radial lug.

10. In a key-controlled switch, a base, rotating mechanism supported by the said base, a cover fitting over the said base, a key controlled barrel supported by the said cover and having a radial cam on the inner end, a frame supported by the said base having a key-hole slot for receiving the said end of the barrel and cam when in one position, a pair of fixed stops for limiting the movements of the said rotating member, and a mechanical contacting piece on the said rotating member for cooperating with the said stops and also for being operatively engaged with the said cam.

11. A mechanism comprising in combination, a base, a rotating member in the form of a unitary structure operatively supported by the said base independently of other supporting means, stop means for limiting the rotative movement of the said rotating member, moving means for rotating the said rotating member from one limited position to the other, a cover mounted on the said base and supporting the said moving means, and cover retaining means for engaging with the said moving means for preventing the removal. of the said cover from the said base.

WILLIAM THIEDE.

Witnesses:

A. W. UPsoN, C. P. UPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. c.

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