US2684408A - Flat type switch - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1954 H. SENGEBUSCH FLAT TYPE SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1951 INVENTOR. HANS SENGEBUSCH TORNEY J 1954 .H. SENGEBUSCH 2,684,408

FLAT TYPE SWITCH Filed July 12, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

I :a Tmuuumum 4g l!.!!!!!!!!!!!=. 44 munnJna 64 53 IN V EN TOR. HANS SENGEBUSCH ATTORNEY July 20, 1954 Filed July 12, 1951 H. SENGEBUSCH FLAT TYPE SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. HANS SENGEBUSCH ATTORNEY July 20, 1954 H. SENGEBUSCH FLAT TYPE SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 12, 1951 INVENTOR. HANS SENGEBUSCH ATTORNEY Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED srarss i ATENT OFFICE FLAT TYPE SWITCH Application July 12, 1951, Serial No. 236,377

9 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to switching apparatus for telephone systems, and more particularly to switches which are adapted for step-bystep motion in each of two directions.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a flat type switch which is capable of moving a plurality of contact wipers in a selective number of rotary and radial steps.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination drive and release mechanism for this switch which requires only two electromagnetic motor units.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel locking linkage which is adapted to cooperate with the driving mechanism to change the direction of movement of the contact wipers.

A further object of this invention is the use of this novel locking linkage in maintaining the contact wiper support or carriage in a stationary position whenever the wipers have been moved to a position which is off-normal with respect to such support.

A further object of this invention is a provision for a new system whereby the radial position of the wipers can be ascertained from a position remotely located with respect to said wipers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new frame for supporting a plurality of switches for this type in a vertical direction for supporting a plurality of bank assemblies aligned position therewith.

Other objects and features of this invention will be brought out more clearly upon a perusal of he following specification and tire in which: Fig. l is a plan view of the switch mounted in. a ineworlr which is provided with one of the novel contact bank assemblies wh be used therewith; Fig. 2 is an enlarged. der pl n View of the drivng mechanism; Fig. is sec cnal view to Fig. 4 is the bott view of the driving se and contact wiper support carriage; Fig. 5 segmentary perspective view of the locking linkage and a. portion of a radial indicator linkage; 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the framework which is adapted to the conta t assemblies in aligned position for meal. stack a plurality of switches of general type described herein; Fig. 7 is a side view of the one of the assemblies; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8-1i of Fig. 7.

The particular embodiment of the switch disclosed herein is capable of performing any of the well known functions of two motion switches,

(Cl. ITS-27.52)

such as telephone linefinders, selectors and connectors. This switch is further adapted for selecting any one of two hundred groups of four conductors each, which are disposed about the switch in banks of insulated bare wires.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and. 6, the apparatus comprises a framework it upon which a plurality of switches l i, of the type more specifically described. hereinafter, are stacked in vertical direction. The framework A t is also adapted for maintaining a plurality of bank contact assemblies i2 in aligned. position and arcuately disposed with respect to the switches H. Each of the switches H includes an assembly of contact wipers H, or as shown in the preferred embodiment, two assemblies of con tact wipers I3 which are arranged to be rotated about a central post 14 until su h contact wipers l3 are in alignment with a desired contact bank assembly [2. The wiper assemblies are each slid.- ably mounted on a bar I5 so that they may be moved radially, with respect to the switch, into contact with the elements of the bank assembly I as will be more specifically shown hereinafter.

Considering now the structure of the switch apparatus in greater detail, reference should be made to Figs. 1, 2. 3, 4 and 5 in which a base plate 55 is provided and upon which all of the switch components described hereinafter mounted. vertical post I4 is secured to this plate :5 in any suitable manner, such as riveting. A driving segment ll, for actuating the component members of the switch, is mounted on the vertical post i for rotational movement thereabout in any suitable manner known in the art. The preferred embodiment shows this accomplished. by suitable bushing l8 which is adapted for rotation on the post 14 and which is securely fastened to the driving segment ll in any well known mam her, such as by riveting the upper rim of the bushing to the segment. An indicator a: is is adapted for rotational movement about the post i and be positioned. as shown in Fig. 3, to rotate about the bushing [8. A support plate or carriage 28 is also mo nted for rotational movernent about the post M and is preferably fastened to a collar 2 l, which in turn is adapted to engage post it and rotate therealoout. If it is deemed desirable, the collar 2! may be separated by the bushing i by a suitable spacer 22. All of these components which are mounted on the post M are secured thereon in any well known marine the preferred embodiment demonstrating the use of a washer 23 and machine screw 24.

The driving segment i! and carriage 25 are rotatively biased toward one another in any manner deemed desirable. This can be accomplished through the use of a spring 25 which is fastened to a post 25 and a post 21, which posts are mounted on the carriage 2E3 and the segment i? respectively. The biasing eifeot n the spring 25 is limited by the use of a stop 28 mounted on the carriage 25 by machine screws 29. Segment ll is also rotatively biased in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. This is accomplished by means of spring 25A. In Fig. 4, the biasing effect of the spring 25A is shown as rotating the segment I? in a counterclockwise direction. In normal position the stop 28 on the carriage 26 engages a stop 39 fastened to the base it to limit the counterclockwise rotation of carriage 2B and segment H as seen in the bottom view of Fig. l. The spring 25A is maintained under tension at all times.

For additional co-operation between the segment El and the carriage there is a lock bar 3!, which is preferably fabricated from some resilient material, and is fastened to the carriage by machine screws 32. The lock bar 3! is provided with a projection 33 which extends downwardly therefrom and which is disposed to engage a slot B l in the segment H. The lock bar 31 is tensioned so that its normal action is biased downward with respect to the carriage and is arranged such that when it is at rest, with its body against carriage 25, the projection 33 is extended through the slot 3 2- in the driving segment ll. Thus the driving segment I? and carriage 2e are rotatively biased toward one another and are mechanically locked together for rotational movement.

The outer end of the lock bar 3!, as is see in Fig. 5, is provided with one or two upturned projections 35. The projections '35 are adapted to engage a plurality of radially spaced teeth which are provided in a lock segment 3'5. In turn, the lock segment 3's is mounted on the base plate I t in any suitable manner, such as with machine screws 38 in Fig. 1. The height of the lock segment 3! is adjusted so that the projections 35 of the lock bar 85 are free therefrom when the lock bar Eli is in its normal position. A look bar actuator 359 is pivotally mounted on the lock segment '3? in any suitable manner, such as hearing pin 35. The bearing pin 253 engages bearing holes in the lock bar actuator 39 and is rigidly fastened to the sides of the lock segment 3?. The actuator 39 has an upwardly extending projection i! to which any suitable biasing means, such as spring 32, may be attached. One end of the spring 42 is fastened to the actuator projection 4| with a rivet 33A and the other end of the spring 42 is fastened to the base plate is by a machine screw :3. The planeof the actuator 35 is disposed to lie beneath the tip of the lock bar 3!. When the actuator 39 is rotated about its bearing pin it, it contacts the outer end of the lock bar 3| and forces the lock bar upward so that the projections 35 engage the teeth 35 of the segment 32. The projections-35 of the lock bar and the lower projection 33am further adjusted so that the lower projection 33 is disengaged from the segment slot 34 when the upper projections 35 are engaging the teeth 38. Thus when the lock bar actuator 39 is rotated about its bearing pin ll}, the carriage 28 is rigidly fastened to the base it through the media of the lock bar 32 and looking segment 3?. At the same time, the driving segment H is freed from its attachment to its, car.

riage 2t and may thereafter be further rotated with respect to both the base it and the carriage 20.

In order to simplify the linkages used, the tension normally present in spring 42 is adjusted so that the bias placed upon the actuator 39 through its arm ll is suificient to overcome the bias -of the loci; bar 3%. This results in the lock bar Si being held in engagement with the locking segment El and out of engagement with the dri ing segment 5?.

The preferred embodiment demons rates the use of two loci: bar projections 35 which are spaced a sufficient distance apart to span two of the look segment teeth By adjusting the projections 35 to lie at an angle slightly oifnorrnal, the lock bar will readily engage the teeth 3% without hind, due to the increased distance between the tips of the projections 3%. Continued movement of the lock bar in engaging the lock segment will force the teeth between the tilted projections until they are in tight engagement therewith. This permits close control of each of the several positions at which the carriage 23 may be locked to the base it, as will hereinafter be seen desirable. Referring now to Fig. 1, a change-over magnet til is provided for operating the locking linkage described above and includes a suitable magnetic structure it. The magnet also includes a suitable armature which is pivotally mounted on a bearing pin 4'5, which in turn is fixed to the magnetic structure 35. The armature ii is provided with an outwardly extending arm 4?, which is disposed to engage the actuator arm ll. When the magnet 35 is electrically energized by any suitable power source (not shown), the armature lt is pivotally moved about its bearing pin ll. The armature in turn, moves the arm 53 in a clock ise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, and causes the arm to engage the actuator arm ll and more the actuator about its bearing pin at against the of the spring 2. The lever arms of these various linkage mom hers are fixed so that the actuator 3? is moved a sufiicient amount to permit the bias of the loci: bar H to become effective in disengaging the lock bar 3! from the locking segment 3'? and move the projection 33 into engagement with slot i i of the driving segment ll. Control circuits can be electrically connected to the magnet at for the electrical circuit thereto at any desired time. The particular embodiment of the invention shown herein has n... d for rotational lll0 f merits of the carriage 26 and the driving se "ment ll together for a series of up to ten s ops as the magnet .4. is energized. At the end any one of these ten steps, the control. circuit (not shown) may remain open causing the release of the magnot it which in turn, by of the locking linkage described above, lill cause the lock car 35 to loci; the carriage 28 to the base if; and free the driving segment i? for rotational movement without rotation of carriage it. If it is so desired, a post 49 may be rigidly fixed to the base it be disposed to engage the surface of a projection 55 of the carriage 28 after the carriage 28 has been rotated ten steps about the post it. This will serve as a limit stop in order to insure the carriage 23 from being rotated more than the predetermined distance.

A motor magnet 5% is secured to the base iii in any well known manner and is provided with a suitable magnetic structure 52. The motor magnet El is further provided with an armature 53 which is pivotally mounted on a bearing pin 54 that is attached to the magnetic structure 52. As can he more clearly seen in Fig. 2, a pawl bearing pin 55 is attached to the outer end of the ar mature 53 and a stepping pawl 56 is pivotally attached to such pin 55. A Toias spring 57 engages projections of the pa 1 5% and the armature 53 in order to bias the pawlilii in a clockwise direction about the pin 5 viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The pawl is pro sided with a driving surface 53 at its outer end, which surface 58 is disposed to engage a series of ratchet teeth 59 that are disposed along the periphery of the driving segment ll. When the motor magnet 5! is electrically e: gized by any suitable control circuit (not shown) the armature is attracted and pivotally moved. about i ring pin 55. This action moves the pawl. to into engagement with one of the ratchet teeth ng the 'otational movement of the well known n the art, nod to the case and re movement of the pawl 1e segment El one step. The a is preferably adjustable lee through which the segment To one step can be closely adjusted.

'sata is provided with a s cond arm 85, the end of which 5 attached thereto. A release has a bearing pawl p suita'ol end or" is jection accordance tion, a p n i from The outer se pawl has a detent which "e the upwardly extending prodriving segment deten In 1 of the objects or this invenattached to the driving segment d to extend downwardly thereplane of the pawl e 1e detent end of the pawl 53 engagement with the projeotion (it. ent so whenever the detent end 53 of v p wl 5'6 is engaged with the a Ell of the driving segment ll. segment is positioned olfect of the spring 89 causes the pawl wove into engagement with the detent i h. age-over magnet :4 is energi: cl while driving segment is oft-norinal, the re ease pawl $8 is actuated to pull the detent 1." etion 52 out of engagement with the ratchet "5 e -nt 5?. During the releasing mot--on, the pro ction 62 engages the outer or" the d l 55 and continued motion or the release pawl the detent projetion S2 forces the detent end 53 of the driving pawl 56 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 59. During the release motion projection 65 of detent 58 is rotated so as to operate the contacts or spring 63. This operation or the Change-over magnet 3 fully releases the driving segment I! of all obstructions and permits the return of the driving segment to its normal position under the biasing 0; spring 25. As the driving segment i'l traverses the distance from the second to the first step, the pin ll again engages the detent end of the release pawl 63. Further movement of the driving segm at in restoring to its normal position forces o pawl 88 out of engagement with the detent This permits the detent and the pawl V to re-engage the ratchet teeth 5% and the driving segment, and also perixlts the contacts of spring 53 to restore.

If the age-over magnet as is energized before the driving segm nt i! is rotated from its normal position, the re] e pawl 63 will not engage detent (it, due to the efiect of pin ll. If the motor magnet 5! is then energized to rotate the driving segment ii off-norn tie release of the detent end it? of release pawl 62 by the driving segment pin it is of no consequence because the detent surface of the pawl been moved beyond the position in which it cold engage the detent 69.

It will now be recalled that when changeover magnet i is operated, the carria e 23 is locked to the driving segment ll by means of the lock bar 3!. Thus, when t,. e cl" age-over Jagnet "is is operated before th motor magnet 5!, the carriage i ill be rotated with the driving segment ll during the operation of the motor magnet i. if the change-over magnet is released after the driving segment ll been moved off-no by the motor magnet a subsequent reoper non of the motor magnet 5! will rotate the dri segment alone, as the carriage 20 has been disconnec o. from the driving segment looked to the base 45, described above. It will also he noted that release of the change-over magnet lease pawl 68 is once again moved upward respect to the detent and, since the driving segment is off-norrnal, is in position for releas ing the detent Ell and the driving pawl 56 upon reoperation of the change-over magnet 44 described above.

As described above, operatover magnet 34, after the ea in a position off-normal further rotated with the will release both the driving segment, via the release pawl 68, and. the carriage, v a segm nt actuator 39. The lock bar will not, th be disengaged from t lock segment. projection 33 of the look bar Si is on the surface of the driving the driving segment is i 1 a with respect to the carriage 2e.

The lower to rest '5 whenever o no nal posed beneath the lower loci; oar

oi will move the upper lock oar projections out of engagement with the lock segment teeth 35 and the projection into engagement with slot 34. The segment ii and the carriage 26 will then be locked together and returned to normal as a unit under the biasing action of the spring 23A.

The wiper assemblies 53, which are mounted on the carriage 2%], will now be described in detail. While this particular embodiment of the invention discloses the adaptation of this switch for use as a 200 line switch, it is to be understood that the invention herein could readily be adapted for use with any reasonable number of lines by revision by any one skilled in the art. The carriage 29 is provided with two wiper mounting bars or mono-rails is which are rigidly fastened to the carriage by any suitable means. A plurality of contact wipers F2 are assembled and mounted together with suitable insulating spacers l3, as is well known in the This plurality of wipers l2 and insulators '53, which comprise the wiper assembly i8, are held together by any suitable means, such as screws '55. The screws is are also connected to racks i means of flanges lE which extend upwardly from the racks '55 into engagement with the screws id. The wiper assemblies l3 together with the racks is are slidably mounted upon the rails i5 and may be fixed thereto for radial movement with respect to the carriage 213, by any suitable mono-- rail guides '1'. Each of the wipers i2 is provided with a terminal 13 which may be connected to any suitable, flexible lead wire (not shown). The wiper assembly racks T5 are preferably disposed in close prox mity to the surface of the carriage 2! where they are engaged by a gear iii. The gears 19 are mounted on an axle Si which extends through bearing holes in both the carriage 29 and a suitable bracket 8i, which is mounted on the carriage 2s. The portion of the axle or shaft 88 which is protruding from the under side of the carriage is fixed with a suitable gear 82 in any manner known in the art. The gear 2'9 and the gear 82 are each rigidly fastened to the shaft all and are adapted for rotational movement therewith. The gear it engages the rack '15 of the wiper assembly 13 and is arranged to slidably move the wiper assembly along the monorail i5 when the gear 82 is rotated. As can be seen in Fig. 4, the portion of the driving segment I? which is disposed opposite the gears 82 is pro vided with a series of teeth 23 which engage the teeth of the gears 82. When the driving segment H i rotated with respect to the carriage 28, the segment teeth 83 are correspondingly moved with respect to the gears 85?. and thereby rotate the gears As described above, this rotational movement will in turn slidably move the iper assemblies i3 along the mone -rails l5. Referring to Fig. 3, in order to adapt this switch for use with groups of four conductors each, it will be noted that the upper pair of contact wipers 12 are shorter in length than the lower contact wipers. When the wipers are moved radially outward with respect to the switch over the mono-rail one step, the lower contact wiper will slide over the first contact of the contact bank 12 and will come to rest on the second contact thereof. The upper contact is adjusted in length so that it comes to rest on the first contact at this time. The stepping distance of the contact wiper assembly It is adjusted so that the upper contact wiper will come to rest on every other bank contact when driven one step at a time. In order to prevent each pair of lower and upper contact wipers from coming into contact with each other when they are not engaging the contact bank 12, the carriage is provided with a post 84 which is made of any suitable insulating material. The tips of the contact wipers 72 are provided with oil-set wiper tips which engage the post 8 3. This will force the wipers apart just as they are being disengaged from the contact bank.

Referring to Fig. 1, this switch is also provided with a pair of indicator arms which will indicate, at any time on a suitable scale 85, the position of the contact wipers. The scale 35 may comprise an upwardly extending flange of the base It which is arcuately shaped and which is engraved or otherwise marked with equally spaced notches and designating numbers. The carriage 29 has an indicator arm 85 which extends outwardly therefrom and is disposed directly above the scale 85. The end of the indicator arm 88 is provided with a suitable indicating line or notch and is moved a distance equal to the distance between two of the indicating notches of the scale 85 for every rotary step of the carriage i The driving segment 5'? is provided with an indicator arm H) which normally lies directly below the indicator arm as, which is adapted to rotate about the post is. Indicator arm is has a projection S? which is disposed to lie directly beneath the lock bar 35 when the switch is in its normal position. As can best be seen in Fig. 5, a portion of this projection 8"! is provided with an upwardly extending tooth 88 which is engageable with any one of a series of small rectangular holes 89 in the driving segment ii. The projection Si is also provided with an extension 9!}. This extension as extends through an opening in the driving segment and a portion thereof is disposed to lie above the section of the driving segment which is provided with the small rectangular holes 89. The lower projection 33 of the lock bar 3i is provided with a notch Qi which is disposed to engage the outer portion of the extension S@. The outer surface of the extension 99 is arcuately shaped to conform with the arc described the lower lock bar projection 33 during its rotational movement. The loci: bar notch ill will move the extension an upward and downward with it when the lock bar is so operated and will, in turn, aiiect upward and downward motion of the projection 8'? and the tooth 38. When the driving segment i? and carriage 29 are rotated as a unit, the lock bar 3! is biased downward and maintains the projection 83' of the indicator arm is out of engagement with the driving segment notches 89. When the change-over magnet is is released, preparatory to moving the wipers radially outward, the loci: bar 3! is moved upward and its notch 2i carries the extension 98 in the same direction. This causes the projection 83 to engage hole es w. ich is then disposed directly above it. Further rotational movement of the driving segment i; will then rotate the indicator arm is about the post for the first time. Since this is also the initial radial movement of the contact wipers E3, the indicator arm is will directly indicate on the scale 35 the number of radial steps which have been taken by the wipers. Since the carriage as is not rotated after the radial movement of the wipers has begun, the indicator arm 85 will indicate, on the scale 85, the rotary position of the wipers. Thus at any time, mere observation of the scale 2-5 and the position of the indicator arms is and 35 will disclose the operated condition of the switch and the rotary and radial position of the Contact wipers.

In order to satisfy all of the conditions under which two motion switches are required to operate and to satisfy the requirements thereof, numerous electrical contact spring assemblies have been provided which may be used when conditions require such. It is felt that the function and operation of all of these spring assemblies are well known in the art. Therefore they will not be described in great detail.

Referring to Fig. 1 the motor magnet 5| is provided with an interrupter spring assembly which is actuated, to make or break electrical contact, by bufier arm 32. An insulating bufier I03 is attached to the buffer N32 to move an armature spring of the assembly |il| whenever the armature 53 is moved by the magnet 5|. These interrupter springs may be utilized in case the switch is used as a selector switch in which case the magnet 5| may operate automatically to cause the switch to seize a first idle set of contacts. Springs I05 are mounted on the magnet structure 45 of the change-over magnet at for operation by the buffer arm I05 of the armature 45. OiT-normal springs lfl'i are actuated by a buffer 18 which is fixed to the indicator arm 36 of the carriage 20. This same buffer Hi8 may be used to actuate a group of rotary cam springs )9. Radial off-normal springs Ill] are operated by a projection III of the radial indicator arm l9. One or more groups of normal post springs H2 and H3 may be operated by a normal post plate H4 which is attached to the carriage 2 9.

From the foregoing, the operation of the present embodiment of the invention is apparent. initially magnet 44 is energized. This unlocks the carriage 29 from the lock segment 3? and causes the carriage to be locked to the driving segment ll by means of lock bar 35. Magnet Si is then energized and restored a selected number of tim s causing the pawl 55 to directly step the driving segment I! a selected number of steps in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1. This results in the alignment of the wipers with selected groups of bank contacts such E2 in the bank. Then magnet 45 is deenergized, causing the carriage to be locked to the lock segment 31 and unlocked from the driving segment IT by said bar 3 i. Magnet 5| is then energized and restored a second selected number of times causing the pawl 56 to directly the driving segment ii a second selected number of steps in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1. This second rotation of the driving segment ii is communicated by the gear teeth 33 to the pinions S2, in -l, and from the pinions to the gears l9, and in turn to the racks if, to cause the wip s to move in a radial direction into the select-co. groups of bank contacts. This results in the selection of a partioular set of bank contacts said wipers.

To cause the switch to restore, magnet 44 is then energized. This causes, as seen in Fig. 2, the release pawl 68 to draw the detent projection 52 and the stepping pawl projection 58- from engagement with the driving segment ll, and as a result thereof the segment ii rotates in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1 under power of he spring 25. When the driving segment |l returns to normal position with respect to the carriage 26, the projection 33 on lock bar 3| drops into the slot 34 causing the carriage 20 and the driving segment i? to be locked together and causing the carriage 2i) to be unlocked from the lock segment 3?. This results in the rota- 10 tion of the carriage 20 and the segment I! in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1 to normal position under the power of spring 25A. Magnet it is then deenergized to completely restore the switch.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 6, 'i and 8, the framework it and the bank contact assemblies l2 will described in detail. The framework is made up or a plurality of shelves which are positioned and maintained one above another by suitable framework elements. Each of these shelves 836 is adapted to serve as the mounting for one or" the switches ii and the switch II is secured and positioned in place by any suitable means, such as screws |3 l.

The portion of the shelf !39 which is disposed beneath the contact wiper assemblies H3 is arcua ely shaped in accordance with the arc dose .d by the tips of the contact wipers 12 during their rotary movement. This arcuate edge of the shelf E36 has a series of radially disposed projections i332, each or" which is disposed along a radial line extending from the center axis i i of the switch ii. The distance between the projections I32 is equal to the distance the contact wiper assemblies l3 are moved when the carriage 2|] of the switch is rotated one step.

The shelf 230 is further provided with a pair of laterally projecting arms i331, each of which has a bank locking wing I34 pivotally attached to the end thereof by screws 235. The shelf |30 also has a center arm |36 extending outwardly therefrom which is secured to an arm [3? of one of the wings I36 by a screw I38. The two Wings 234 that are mounted on any one shelf 239 are fastened together by any suitable means, such as sc'ew [39. The wings E33 are also provided with a plurality of projections Hid each of which is disposed along a radial line extending through the center axis i l of the switch ll of one of the projections E32 of the shelf 30.

he bank assembly l2, which is adapted for use with this switching apparatus, is shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8 and comprises a block of insulating material |4| which has a series of slots H2, longitudinally disposed along opposite sides thereof. A conductor wire or contact M3 is positioned and maintained in each of the slots M2 by a series of strips of insulating material hi l. The strips I44 on each side of the bank are each provided with a metallic reinforcing plate H55 and each strip M4 and plate iaterally traverses all of the contacts 243. Each end is then fastened to the insulating block Ml by a rivet M6. The strips I44 and plates M5 are spaced along the assembly l2. When the contact bank assembly I2 is mounted in the framework 10, one of the retaining plates will be disposed opposite each shelf liifl. In this Way the bare outer surface of the contacts 543 are exposed and unobstructed for contact by the contact wipers l2 of the switch l. The bottom portion of the bank assemblies it, as seen in Figure 7, has a diagonally disposed surface from which the terminating ends of the contact rods M3 are exposed. These terminating ends are accessible for connection to such fur ther circuits as are desired. This connection may include an adaptable plug-in type jack such as would permit disconnection and reconnection with relative ease. The terminating end of the contact bank assembly is provided with a suitable retaining plate M'i on either of the bank assembly and each of which covers a suitll able insulator Hi3. These plates and insulators 5 37, hit are fastened to the structure by rivets M9.

The width of the projections 132, MG are adjusted so that they will fit between the retaining plates M5 and I4? of the bank assembly E2. The portions of the retaining plates its and it? which extend forwardly beyond the edge of the insulating block Mi are each notched, the notches in each case being wide enough to engage the thickness of the shelf I39. As will be seen in Fig. 6, when the contact bank assembly l2 engages the arcuately shaped surface of the shelves its, one of the projections I32 of each of the shelves 338 is positioned between each pair of retaining plates Hi5 and i i? and the notches of the retaining plates engage the thickness of the shelves [353. After the bank I2 is so positioned, the wings we are rotated about their pivots 535 until the projections M engage the rearwardly extending portion of the retaining plates Hi and I47. The wings ltd are rotated inwardly an additional amount until the projections E32 and I50 tightly engage the insulating block l il, at which time each pair of wings are fastened together by screws 539 and the projection 13? is fastened to the arm 136 of each of the shelves i3fi. The contact bank i2 is thereby positioned along a radial line extending from the central pivot M of the switch I. Since the contact wiper assemblies l3 and each switch are adapted to move along such a radial line, and since each of the projections 132 is positioned at one of the rotary steps of the wipers iii, the contact bank which is connected to the framework as described above will be correctly positioned for engagement with the wiper during a selected radial movement thereof.

Having described the invention, what is considered new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, a wiper, a first member, a second member, a shaft, said members mounted rotatively and adjacently on said shaft, said wiper slidably mounted on said first member, said members having a normal position, means on said members for locking said members together, means for directly rotating said second member a first and a second selected amount, said first member following the rotation of said second member when said second member is rotated said first selected amount, means for unlocking said members and for locking said first member against further rotational movement, means whereby said last means is operated at the completion of the rotation of said second member said first selected amount, means associated with said first and second members for sliding said wiper along said first member, means whereby said sliding means is operated responsive to the rotation of said second member said second selected amount, said second member having a series of holes therein, an indicator arm rotatably mounted upon said shaft, said arm having a projection extending therefrom, said projection capable of engaging any one of said series of holes, means associated with said first means for engaging said arm for causing said projection to engage one of said holes, which of said holes is engaged dependent upon the selected extent of rotation of said second member said first selected amount, said arm thereafter rotated with said second member said second selected'arnount to indicate said second selected amount.

2. In an electric switch, a base, a first member, a second member, a shaft mounted upon said base, said first and second members mounted rotatively and adjacently on said shaft, a lock bar mounted on said first member, a locking slot in said second member, said lock bar normally biased toward engagement with said locking slot thereby causing said members to be rotatable together, means for directly rotating said second member a first amount and a second amount, :a third member rigidly mounted on said base, means for moving said lock bar out of engagement with said locking slot and into engagement with said'third member to lock said first member from further rotational movement so that only said second member is rotated said second amount and means whereby said last means is operated when said rotation of said first amount is completed.

3. In an electric switch as claimed in claim 2 said lock bar comprising a resilient spring, one end of said spring being rigidly fastened to said first member, the other end of said spring having projections thereon, said projections extending from said spring in two directions, one of said projections in one direction engageable with said locking slot, said projections in said other direction engageable with said third member.

4. In an electric switch as claimed in claim 3, said third member including an arcuate first element having slots therein, said slots engageable with said lock bar in any rotational position of said first member, and said second means comprising an arcuate second element pivotally mounted on said third member, said second e1ement engageable with said loci: bar in any rotational position of said first member and means for pivoting said second element for causing said second element to engage said lock bar, which moves said lock bar out of engagement with said locking slot and into engagement with said slots.

5. In a two motion so ecting switch having a wiper carriage supporting a plurality of Wiper sets and having a plurality of groups of bank contacts accessible to each wiper, a driving eiement, means for driving said driving element, a control magnet/a loci: bar mounted on said wiper carriage, said lock bar comprising a resilient spring having a normal bias and having projections on one end thereof, locking means, neans for controlling said bias to cause certain of said loci; bar projections to engage said driving element thereby linking said driving element and said carriage to cause a first movement of the element to move said carriage and u; rs into position before a particular group of Sand bani: contacts, means whereby said controlling means is controlled by a first operation of said control magnet, means for controlling said bias to cause said lock bar projections to disengage said driving element and to cause certain of said projections to engage said locking means to lock said carriage to thereby cause further movement of said element to move said wipers to one of the contacts in the particular group, means whereby said last means is controlled by a second operation of said control magnet, means for releasing said wipers and said carriage to cause them to return to normal, means whereby said release means is controlled by a third operation of said control magnet.

In an electric switch, a base, a wip r, a first member, a second member, a shaft mounted on said base, said members mounted rotatively and adjacently on said shaft, a tensioned spring connected to said base and said second member biasing said second member in one rotational direction, a second tensioned spring connected to said first and second members biasing said members in opposite rotational directions, said members having a normal biased position, said wiper slidably mounted on said first member, means on said members for locking said members together, means for directly rotating said second member a first and a second selected amount, means for unlocking said members and for locking said first member from further rotational movement, an electromagnet and an armature therefor, means including said armature whereby said first means is operated when said electromagnet is energized, means whereby said third means is operated when said electromagnet is deenergized at the completion of said rotation of said second member said first selected amount, means associated with said first and second members for sliding said wiper along said first member, and means whereby said sliding means is operated responsive to the rotation of said second member said second selected amount.

7. In an electric switch as claimed in claim 6, ratchet teeth disposed along part of the periphery of said second member, said second means comprising a pawl biased to engage the first of said ratchet teeth and means for operating said pawl a successive number of times in two series, a detent engaging the following ratchet tooth and engageable with said pawl, a release lever mounted on said armature engageable with said detent, means whereby said release lever is operated to engage said detent when said electromagnet is deenergized, means whereby said release lever is operated to Withdraw said detent from said ratchet teeth when said electromagnet is energized a second time to restore said switch to normal under operation of said springs, a stop projecting from said second member engaging said release lever when said switch is in said normal position so that said release lever is prevented from withdrawing said detent when said electromagnet is initially energized.

8. In an electric switch, a wiper, a first member, a second member having an arcuate portion thereon, a shaft, said members mounted rotatively and adjacen-tly on said shaft, said wiper slidably. mounted on said first member, said members having a normal position, means on the first member normally effective to engage the second member for locking said members together, means including a series of ratchet teeth disposed along part of the periphery of said arcuate portion for directly rotating said second member a first and a second selected amount, said first member following the rotation of said second member when said second member is rotated said first selected amount, a third member, means operated at the completion of the rotation of said second member said first selected amount for moving said first means out of engagement with the second member, thereby to unlock said first and second members, and into engagement with said third member, thereby to lock said first member from further rotational movement, means associated with said first and second members, including a series of gear teeth disposed along another part of the periphery of said arcuate portion and operated responsive to the rotation of said second member said second selected amount for sliding said wiper along said first member.

9. In an electric switch as claimed in claim 8, said fourth means also including a rack mounted on said wiper, a gear rotatably mounted on said first member and in mesh with said rack, a sec- 0nd gear mounted on the same axis of rotation as said first gear and rotatable with said first gear, said second gear in mesh with said series of gear teeth disposed along part of the periphery of said arcuate portion so that when said second member is rotated said second selected amount said gear teeth rotate said second gear which in turn rotates said first gear which in turn projects said rack in a radial direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,460,913 Lienzen et a1 July 3, 1923 1,650,706 Gent Nov. 29, 1927 2,410,432 Drake Nov. 5, 1946 2,523,622 Harvey Sept. 26, 1950 2,578,095 Sengebusch Dec. 11, 1951 2,623,126 Graybill et al Dec. 23, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 85,768 Sweden Mar. 10, 1936 125,110 Australia Oct. 26, 1931 348,563 Great Britain May 6, 1931

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