US1870599A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

1932- H. w. BATCHELLER. 1,870,599

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 9, 1929 a zmznidim Patented Aug. 9, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HUGH W. BATGHELLER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed April 9, 1929. Serial No. 353,779.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a simple and durable electric switch which includes a movable circuit closer of such form and construction that it is free from liability to be fused or otherwise injured or disabled in performing its function, and actuated by a hand piece or carrier which is movable to close and break the circuit in which the switch is included,eeither by rotation or rectilinear movement of the hand iece.

p Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Of the accompanyingdrawing formmg a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a sectional View of a; swltch embodying one form of the invention, the circuit closer being shown in its circuit-closing position.

Figure'2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1. a

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2,

showing the circuit closer in its circuit-breaking position. I

, Figure 4 shows in perspectlve the conductors shown by Figures '1, 2 and 3, and their gap-separated terminals.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the hand piece or carrier shown by Figure 1.,

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing a modification. v

Figure 8 is a side view of a switch embodying another and the preferred form of the invention.

igures 9 and 10 are sectional views of the body and carrier shown by Figure 8, the

conductors being omitted. I

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Figures, showing the conductors.

Figure 12 is afragmentary rear view looking toward the inner side of the portion shown by Figure 11. The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

The switch shown by Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, comprises an insulating body 12, preferably composed of bakelite. Fixed in said body and insulated from each other thereby, are two spaced apart conductors 13, each extending through the body and provided at the inner side thereof with gapseparated terminals 14, formed to contact simultaneously with the movable circuit closer hereinafter described, the terminals being bent at right angles with the conductors and bearing on the inner side of the body 12. Each terminal is provided with a recess 15 (Figures 2 and 3) for a purpose hereinafter described.

An insulating carrier, composed of a cylindrical body portion or hand piece 16 having a flange 17, is movably connected with the body 12 by a frame which includes a central portion having an orifice 18 constituting a bearing-in which the hand piece is rotatable, oppositely projecting ears 19, adapted to be attached to a structure supporting the switch, and hooked ears 2O engaged with the outer side of the body 12, as shown by Figure 1, said ears confining the body 12 and hand piece flange 17 spaced apart, the terminals 14 being between the body and the flange.

Circuit closing means, preferably composed of two metallic conducting members, which may be either balls 21, or slugs 21a (Figure 7), is movable by the rotation of the hand piece 16 to either of the two predetermined positions shown by Figures 2 and 3. When said members are in Figure 2 position, they contact simultaneously with the terminals 14 and bridge the gap to close the circuit, and when they are in Figure 3 position, the gap is not bridged and the circuit is broken, the members 21 entering the recesses 15.

The circuit closing members are guided and positively controlled by the hand piece and are pressed yieldingly by springs 23, toward the terminals 14, the springs and portions of said members being contained in longitudinal sockets 24: in the handpiece. The springs act through the members 21 to press the carrier flange 17 against the frame center.

Figures 8 to 12, inclusive, show a simplified and more compact construction, eliminating the frame above described. In said figures, the body designated by 25, has a flat back and is attachable, as by screws 26, formed in the inserted in a recess 32 (Figure 9) formed in the flat back of the body, their outer sides being flush withsaid back. The body is provided with metallic bushings 33, whose outer ends project into the recess 32, and enter holes formed for their reception in the conductors 31. Said ends are reduced in thickness to 1 enable them to be upset on the conductors and thereby secure the latter to the body, as shown by Figure 11. The bushings are tapped to engage binding screws 34., which secure conductin wires 35 to the conductors 31.

TheTody is provided with a stop shoulder 36 (Figure 9) which cooperates with a complemental stop shoulder 37 on the hand piece 29, in limiting outward movement of the hand piece in the bearing 28. The conductors are provided with terminals 38, formed like the terminals 14 above described, and separated from each other by a gap coinciding with the axis of the hand piece 29. V The circuit closer includes two members 39,

backed by springs 40, said members and the conductor terminals 38 functioning like the members 21 and terminals 14 above described.

The switch last described has several advantages over that 'shownby Figures 1 to 7, including simplicity and compactness, and the ease and convenience with which. its parts ma be assembled. The body 25 may be mo ded in a variety of ornamental forms, with the bushin s 33 embedded in it, andthe recess 32 forme in its back. The hand piece 29 is insertible in the bearing from the back of the body, its insertion being limited by the stops 36 and 37. After the insertion of the hand piece in the body, the springs 40 and members 39 may be dropped into the carrier sockets, and the conductors 31 may be secured to the body, the assembly being thus completed, the terminals of the conductors pre venting escape of the members 39 from the sockets. The stop member 37 of the hand piece is confined ,againstthe stop member 36 of the body by the conjoint action of the springs and the members 39, the springs pressing said members against the conductor terminals.

Itwill be seen thatin each of the described embodimentsof the invention, the switch is provided with a bearing in which the hand piece is rotatable on an axis coinciding with the gap separating the conductor terminals,

I and that the circuit closing members are eccentric to said axis and movable from one predetermined position to the other by a partial rotation of the hand piece, the bearing hand piece designated by 16' in Figures 1 to 7 and by-29,-. 30 in Figures 8 and 10.

Said hand piece projects outward from the body at an invariable angle therewith, there being no swinging or pivotal connection between the hand piece and the body, so that the structure does not include the element of weakness involved by such swinging or pivotal connection.

The hand piece and the gap bridging or circuit closing means carried thereby constitute a compact element of the switch, adapted to be conveniently assembled with the other elements, and free, as above stated,

from pivotal or swinging connections therewith, so that the switch as a whole is of strong, simple and durable construction.

I claim:

1. Anelectric switch comprising an insulating body adapted to be fixed to a support and provided with a bearing constituting a guiding means whereby a movable hand iece may be rotatably guided in opposite rections in a predetermined-path relative to said body, spaced apart conductors fixed to the body and insulated from each other thereby, said conductors having gap-separated terminalsvformed to contact simultaneously with circuit closing means, a circuit closer includmg an insulatin rotatable hand piece projecting outward rom said body and adapted to turn in opposite directions in said bearing and spring pressed circuit closing means movable 1n and guided by the hand piece and yieldingly projected from the inner end thereof, toyieldingly enter'and bridge said gap when the hand piece is turned in one direction, and retreat from the gap when the hand piece is turned in the opposite direction, the

and piece being maintained at an invariable angle with the body by said bearing.

2. An electric switch as specified'by claim 1, the circuit closing means being embodied in two members movable in the rotatable hand piece at opposite sides of the axis thereof, and springs yieldingly projecting said members from the inner end of the hand piece.

3. An electric switch as specified by claim '1, the circuit closing means being embodied in two members movable in the rotatable hand piece at oppositesides of the axis thereof, and springs yield ngly projecting said mem-v and guided in a predetermined path thereby, y

hers from the inner end of the hand piece, the carrier being insertible in said hearing from the inner end of the body, the hand piece and body being provided with complemental stop members maintained in contact With each other by said springs.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

HUGH W. BATCHELLER.

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