US3185783A - Push button switch with locking feature - Google Patents

Description

y 1965 w. F. DOWDLE ETAL 3,185,783

PUSH BUTTON SWITCH WITH LOCKING FEATURE Filed June 22, 1962 INVENTORS.

WALTER F flow 0L Ro E. WHEELER By 9M '2. J/dMvy ATTORNEY.

This invention relates to switch devices and has particular relation to oil-tight switch devices including one or more switches actuated in response to reciprocation of a push button actuator.

Switch devices including push button switch actuators have heretofore been employed in a variety of applications and in certain applications it is advantageous that such switch devices include locking means effective to lock a switch in a selected operating condition and to prevent movement of the push button actuator.

In the control of punch presses, for example, it is desirable to provide a push button switch device including locking means movable between inactive and locking positions and which during movement to the locking position actuates a switch, and which when in the locking position, holds the switch in the actuated position and also prevents movement of the push button actuator. It is desirable that the locking means be key operated at a position which is readily accessible'to an operator, and the looking means should include a minimum number of parts arranged so as to not add appreciably to the cost and to the space requirements of the switch device. It is also desirable that the switch device be of oil-tight design with effective sealing means preventing the passage of foreign matter through openings of the device mounting frame. I

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a push button switch device of novel and improved construction including a minimum number of compactly arranged parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a push button switch device including novel and improved means for locking a switch in a selected operating condition and at the same time preventing movement of the push button actuator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a push button switch device including novel and improved locking means rotatable between inactive and locking positions and which during rotation to the locking position actuates a selected one of two switches, and which when in the locking position, holds the selected switch in the actuated condition and also prevents movement of the push button actuator.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a switch device as defined in the preceding paragraph which is of oil-tight design with an improved arrangement of sealing means between openings of the, device mounting frame and parts movably mounted within the openings.

In carrying out the invention in one preferred form, a push button switch device is provided including a springbiased push button mounted for reciprocation at the front side of a mounting frame and having a stem extending through an opening of the frame and carrying a switch actuating plate at the rear of the frame, the actuating plate being movable towards and away from operating elements of a pair of switches mounted at the rear of the frame in response to reciprocation of the push button.

The actuating plate includes a depending flange which slides in a slot of the frame to prevent rotation of the plate during reciprocation thereof. A sealing ring is secured within the frame opening, preferably by staking, to closely surround the push button stem. The switch operating elements normally are extended outwardly of United States Patent O the switch casings to establish normally open and normally closed switch conditions which are reversed when the operating elements are displaced inwardly of the switch casings in response to depression of the push button.

A locking means is provided including a lock member mounted at the rear of the frame for rotation between inactive and locking positions in response to rotation of a key-operated cylinder by an operation performed at the front of the frame. The cylinder extends through an opening of the frame and the lock member includes a switch-actuating cam portion which engages the operating element of the normally open switch during movement of the locking member to its locking position for displacing the operating element and establishinga normally closed condition of the switch. When in the locking position the lock member maintains the normally-open switch in its actuated condition. The lock member includes also a projection which confronts the push button plate when the lock member is in its locking position to prevent movement of the push button and the push button plate toward the switch-operating elements. A sealing ring is mounted within the cylinder-receiving opening of the frame to closely surround a part of the cylinder.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation showing the push button switch device of the present invention mounted upon a panel or the like which is partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 with the lock member shown in its inactive position;

FIG. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the push button switch device shown detached from the panel of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the lock member shown in its locking condition; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view with parts shown in per spective of the push button switch device of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated a push button switch device represented generally by the numeral 10 and incorporating features of the present invention. In general, the device 10 is adapted for mounting on a panel 11 or the like (FIGS. 1 and 2) and includes one or more electric switches, there being two switches ,12 and 13in the illustrated embodiment. As will presently appear, the switches 12 and 13 are operated in response reciprocation of a push button actuator 14 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. A key operated locking means 15 (FIGS. 2 and 5) is mounted for rotation between inactive and locking positions to actuate one of the switches 12 and 13 during its rotation to the locking position and is effective when in the locking position to maintain the one switch in its actuated position and to also prevent movement'of the push button actuator 14.

More specifically, as best shown in FIG .2 the switches 12 and 13 and the push button actuator 14 are supported by a frame 16 adapted to be attached to the front of the panel 11 in any suitable manner, such as by screws 15, and the switches 12 and 13 are mounted at the rear of the frame 16 behind a large opening of the panel 11. Sealing rings 16' surround the screws 15 beneath the heads thereof and bear against the screw heads and the bevelled side walls of the screw holes when the screws 15 are tightened.

The switches 12 and 13 are attached in side-by side relation to a flat base 17 which in turn is secured to spaced posts 18 extending from the rear face of the frame 16 as by screws 19.- As best shown in FIG. 5 the switches 12 and 13 include respectively operating elements 20 and 21 which extend through an opening 22 of the base 17 toward the rear face of the frame 15 and which are normally biased outwardly of the switch casings to their illustrated positions to establish respectively normally closed and normally open operating conditions of the switches 12 and 13. When the elements Ztl and 21 are displaced inwardly of the switch casings the switch operating conditions are reversed so that the switch 12 assumes an open condition and the switch 13 assumes a closed condition.

In order to effect actuation of the switches 12 and 13, the push button actuator 14 includes a switch actuating plate 23 (FIGS. 2 and located at the rear of the frame 16 and carried by the push button 24 which is positioned at the front of the frame 16 and which is mounted for reciprocation by a hollow extension 25 projecting from the front of the frame 16. The plate 23 is generally L-shaped and includes a flat main part 26 which is adapted to engage the tips of the operating elements 29 and 21 and which is normally seated in a groove 27 formed on the rear face of the frame 16. The plate 23 includes also a depending part 28 adapted to slide Within a slot 29 formed in a lateral extension 30 of the projection 25 and opening at the rear of the frame 16. This arrangement prevents undesired rotation of the push button actuator 1 1 during reciprocation thereof. The plate 23 is attached to the push button 24 by means of a screw 31 extending through an opening 32 of the part 26 into threaded engagement with an opening formed in the end of stem 33 of the push button 24 which also includes a rounded head 34 for engagement by an operator.

The actuator 14 includes a coil spring 35 which surrounds the stem 33 of the push button and which bears against the under side of the rounded head 34 and against a shoulder 36 (FIGS. 2 and 5) formed within the hollow of the projection 25 so that when the actuator 14 is assembled and associated with the frame 16, the spring 35 urges the push button 24 outwardly. When the push button 24 is depressed, the spring 35 is compressed within the opening 37 of the projection 25 and the stem 33 slides within a smaller opening 38 within the projection 25 to move the part 26 of the plate 23 against the operating elements 20 and 21 of the switches 12 and 13. When the push button 24 is released, the spring 35 expands to move the push button outwardly and to move the plate 23 away from the elements 20 and 21 and into the groove 27 on the rear face of the frame 16.

A sealing ring 38' rests upon a shoulder 39 formed within the projection 25 at the entrance to the opening 38. The ring 38' is secured firmly in position by means of a ring stake on the shoulder 36 and closely surrounds the stem 33 of push button 24. By ring staking the sealing ring 38' in position, the ring 3% cannot be displaced during reciprocation of the push button.

In certain installations wherein push button switch stations are employed, it is desirable to make provision for locking a switch in a selected operating condition and at the same time to prevent depression of the push button for changing the switch-operating condition. By way of example, in the control of punch presses, a number of push button switch actuators are utilized as run buttons each to control a pair of switches, such as the switches 12 and 13, to simultaneously actuate a normally closed switch to an open condition and a normally open switch to a closed condition. In order to operate the press, it is necessary that the plurality of push button actuators be depressed at the same time by operating personnel. In such installations it is desirable to make provisions for locking both the normally closed and normally open switches in their closed operating conditions, and for preventing operation of the normally closed switch to a normally open condition after the normally open switch is locked in its normally closed condition.

In the present invention such a locking arrangement is provided by the lock means 15 which includes a lock member in the form of a plate 40 positioned at the rear of the frame 16 and attached as by a screw 41 to a conventional key cylinder mechanism 42 rotatably mounted within a hollow projection 43 extending from the front of the frame 16 to effect rotation of the plate 40 about an axis generally parallel to the axis of reciprocation of the push button. The plate 49 is rotated between an inactive position and a locking position in response to turning of a key 44 which is inserted into the mechanism 42. A sealing ring 45 bears against a shoulder formed within the projection 43 to closely surround the reduced end 45' of the mechanism 42.

The lock means 15 is effective to operate the switch 13 from its normally open condition to its closed condition during rotation of the lock means from its inactive position to its locking position. For this purpose the plate 46) includes a cam portion 4-6 which engages the operating element 21 during rotation of the plate 44 to its locking position and cams the element 21 inwardly of the casing of the switch 13. When the plate 40 is in its locking position, the lower surface of the plate at} as viewed in FIG. 4 engages the element 21 and holds such element in its inward position to establish a normally closed condition of the switch 13.

Another function of the lock means 15 is to prevent depression of the push button 24 and thereby prevent operation of the switch 12 to its open condition after the switch 13 has been actuated to and locked in its closed condition. To this end the plate it} includes a projection 4-7 which when the plate 4% is in its locking position, projects toward and confronts the switch actuating plate 23 to prevent substantial movement thereof toward the operating element 20. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the plate 40 is shown in its inactive position, and in FIG. 4 the plate 40 is shown in its locking position wherein it maintains the switch 13 in a closed condition.

A sealing ring 49 of generally rectangular configuration fits snugly Within a correspondingly shaped groove 50 formed in the rear face of the frame 16 adjacent the periphery thereof. The depth of the groove 50 is less than the thickness of the ring 49 so that a portion of the thickness of the ring 49 projects outwardly from the rear face of the frame. When the frame 16 is secured to the panel 11, the ring 49 is compressed almost flush with the rear face of the frame to provide a very effective seal.

While we have shown and described a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from our invention in its broader aspects and we, therefore, intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

hat we claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A switch device comprising support means, a pair of switches mounted on said support means each having an operating element displaceable between first and second positions, said operating elements normally being in said first positions to establish preselected switch operating conditions and being displaceable to said second positions to establish other switch operating conditions, a switch actuator mounted on said support means for movement relative thereto to simultaneously displace said operating elements between said first and second positions, and key-operated locking means mounted on said support means including a locking member mounted for rotation relative to said support means between inactive and locking positions about an axis generally parallel to the direction of movement of said switch actuator, said locking member extending generally perpendicular to its axis of rotation, said locking member having a first part which during movement of the locking member to the locking position operates to displace a single one of said operating elements to its second position, said locking member when in its locking position engaging and holding said one operating element in its second position, said locking member having a second part which confronts the switch actuator when the locking member is in its locking position to prevent movement of the switch actuator in a direction for displacing said operating elements.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said one operating element when in said first position establishes a normally open condition of its switch, the other operating element when in said first position establishing a normally closed condition of its switch.

3. A switch device comprising support means, a pair of switches mounted on said support means each having an operating element displaceable betwen first and second positions, said operating elements normally being in said first positions to establish preselected switch operating conditions and being displaceable along spaced parallel first axes to said second positions to establish other switch operating conditions, a switch actuator mounted on said support means and including an actuating member mounted for reciprocation relative to said support means along a second axis parallel to said first axes to substantially simultaneously displace said operating elements between said first and second positions, and a key-operated locking member having a cam portion and a projection and being mounted by said support means for rotation relative to the support means about an axis generally parallel to the direction of reciprocation of said actuating member between inactive and locking positions, said locking member extending generally perpendicular to its axis of rotation, said locking member during rotation toward its locking position moving the cam portion to displace a single one of said operating elements to its second position, said locking member when in its locking position holding said one operating element in its second position and also locating said projection in confronting relation with said actuating member to prevent movement of the actuating member in a direction for displacing said operating elements.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said one operating element when in said first position establishes a normally open condition of its switch, the other operating element when in said first position establishing a normally closed condition of its switch.

5. A switch device comprising a supporting frame, a pair of switches mounted on one side of said frame, each of said switches having an operating element displaceable between first and second positions, said operating elements normally being in said first positions to establish preselected switch operating conditions and being displaceable along spaced parallel first axes to said second positions to establish other switch operating conditions, a switch actuator mounted on said frame operable from the other side of said frame and including an actuating plate on said one side of the frame, said plate being reciprocable relative to said frame along a second axis perpendicular to its plane and parallel to said first axes to substantially simultaneously displace said operating elements between said first and second positions, and locking means mounted on said frame key-operated from said other side of said frame and having a locking member on said one side of the frame movable relative to said frame to a locking position, said locking member having a cam part which during movement of the locking member to its locking position displaces a single one of said operating elements to its second position, said locking member when in its locking position engaging and holding said one operating element in its second position, said locking member having a projection which is positioned in confronting relation with said actuating plate when the locking member is in its locking position to prevent movement of said plate towards said operating elements.

6. A switch device comprising a supporting frame, a pair of switches mounted on one side of said frame,

each of said switches having an operating element displaceable between first and second positions, said operating elements normally being in said first positions to establish preselected switch operating conditions and being displaceable along spaced parallel first axes to said second positions to establish other switch operating conditions, a switch actuator mounted on said frame operable from the other side of said frame and including an actuating plate on said one side of the frame, said plate being reciprocable relative to said frame along a second axis perpendicular to its plane and parallel to said first axes to substantially simultaneously displace said operating elements between said first and second positions, and locking means mounted on said frame key-operated from said other side of said frame including a locking member .on said one side of the frame having a cam portion and a projection, said locking member being mounted for rotation relative to said frame about an axis generally parallel to the direction of reciprocation of said plate between inactive and locking positions, said locking member extending generally perpendicular to its axis of rotation, said locking member during rotation toward its locking position moving the cam portion to displace a single one of said operating elements to its second position, said locking member when in its locking position holding said one operating element in its second position and also locating said projection in confronting relation with said plate to prevent movement of the plate in a direction for displacing said operating elements.

7. A switch device comprising a supporting frame, a pair of switches mounted on one side of said frame, each of said switches having an operating element displaceable between first and second positions, said operating elements normally being in said first positions to establish preselected switch operating conditions and being displaceable along spaced parallel first axes to said second positions to establish other switch operating conditions, a switch actuator mounted on said frame operable from the other side of said frame and including an actuating plate on said one side of the frame, said plate being reciprocable relative to said frame along a second axis perpendicular to its plane and parallel to said first axes to substantially simultaneously displace said operating elements between said first and second position, and looking means mounted on said frame key-operated from said other side of said frame including a locking member on said one side of the frame having a cam portion and a projection, said locking member being mounted for rotation relative to said frame about an axis generally parallel to the direction of reciprocation of said plate between inactive and locking positions, said locking member extending generally perpendicular to its axis of rotation said locking member during rotation toward its lock ing position moving the cam portion to displace a single one of said operating elements to its second position, said locking member when in its locking position holding said one operating element in its second position and also locating said projection in confronting relation with said plate to prevent movement of the plate in a direction for displacing said operating elements, said frame hav ing a slot opening at said one side thereof, said plate having a part extending into said slot to prevent rotation of the plate during reciprocation thereof.

8. A switch device comprising a supporting frame, a pair of switches each having an operating element displaceable between first and second positions, a support plate mounted by said frame on one side thereof, said switches being secured to said support plate in side by side relation with their operating elements extending toward said frame, said operating elements normally being in said first positions to establish preselected switch operating conditions and being displaceable along spaced parallel first axes to said second positions to establish other switch operating conditions, a switch actuator operable from the other side of said frame and being spring biased away from said frame, said actuator including an actuating plate on said one side of the frame, said operating elements being spaced from said actuating plate by substantially equal distances, said actuating plate being reciprocable along a second axis perpendicular to its plane and parallel to said first axes to substantially simultaneously displace said operating elements between said first and second positions, and locking means key operated from said other side of said frame including a key cylinder mechanism extending through said frame to said one side thereof, and an elongated locking member secured at one of its ends to said mechanism on said one side of the frame to extend generally perpendicular to said second axis, said locking member having adjacent its other end a cam portion and a projection, said locking member being rotatable about an axis generally parallel to said second axis between inactive and locking positions in response to rotation of said mechanism, said locking member during rotation toward its locking position moving its cam portion to displace a single one of said operating elements to its second position, said locking member when in its locking position holding said one operating element in its second position and also locating said projection in confronting relation with said actuating plate to prevent movement of the actuating plate in a direction for displacing said operating elements, said frame having a slot opening at said one side thereof, said actuating plate having a part extending into said slot to prevent rotation of the actuating plate during reciprocation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,680,368 6/54 McKitrick 200-44 2,896,034 7/59 Nolden et al 200-18 3,056,481 10/62 Luenser 200-44 3,104,687 9/63 Field 200-44 X BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SWITCH DEVICE COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS, A PAIR OF SWITCHES MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS EACH HAVING AN OPERATING ELEMENT DISPLACEABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITION, SAID OPERATING ELEMENTS NORMALLY BEING IN SAID FIRST POSITIONS TO ESTABLISH PRESELECTED SWITCH OPERATING CONDITIONS AND BEING DISPLACEABLE TO SAID SECOND POSITIONS TO ESTABLISH OTHER SWITCH OPERATING CONDITIONS, A SWITCH ACTUATOR MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLACE SAID OPERATING ELEMENTS BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, AND KEY-OPERATED LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A LOCKING MEMBER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS BETWEEN INACTIVE AND LOCKING POSITIONS ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SWITCH ACTUATOR, SAID LOCKING MEMBER EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO ITS AXIS OF ROTATION, SAID LOCKING MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PART WHICH DURING MOVEMENT OF THE LOCKING MEMBER TO THE LOCKING POSITION OPERATES TO DISPLACE A SINGLE ONE OF SAID OPERATING ELEMENTS TO ITS SECOND POSITION, SAID LOCKING MEMBER WHEN IN ITS LOCKING POSITION ENGAGING AND HOLDING SAID ONE OPERATING ELEMENT IN ITS SECOND POSITION, SAID LOCKING MEMBER HAVING A SECOND PART WHICH CONFRONTS THE SWITCH ACTUATOR WHEN THE LOCKING MEMBER IS IN ITS LOCKING POSITION TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE SWICH ACTUATOR IN A DIRECTION FOR DISPLACING SAID OPERATING ELEMENTS.

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