[go: up one dir, main page]

US3286070A - Switch assembly having stacked units with split insulating housings - Google Patents

Switch assembly having stacked units with split insulating housings Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3286070A
US3286070A US394753A US39475364A US3286070A US 3286070 A US3286070 A US 3286070A US 394753 A US394753 A US 394753A US 39475364 A US39475364 A US 39475364A US 3286070 A US3286070 A US 3286070A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
housing
switch
units
axially
switch assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US394753A
Inventor
Volker Karl
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3286070A publication Critical patent/US3286070A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
    • H01H19/64—Encased switches adapted for ganged operation when assembled in a line with identical switches, e.g. stacked switches

Definitions

  • the invention relates to electrical switch assemblies and particularly to an assembly which consists of a plurality of units superimposed in the direction of a common axis.
  • the invention in one of its aspects, thus resides in an electrical switch assembly the several switch units of which have a common axis and are axially superimposed in each other.
  • Each unit includes a housing of electrically insulating material on which the switch contacts are mounted so that they may be moved relative to each other toward and away from a position of engagement.
  • Each housing includes two parts which are offset transversely of the afore-mentioned axis and have respective axially extending faces which are held in abutting engagement by locking means releasably locking the two housing parts or elements to each other.
  • a coupling device couples the several units to each other.
  • the locking means may include a slide which engages the two housing parts by means of projections and recesses, preferably dovetailed and axially elongated, which are interengaged for guiding simultaneous axial movement of the slide relative to both housing parts.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cam operated switch unit in accordance with the invention without its cover
  • FIG. 2 shows disassembled elements of another switch unit, and FIG. 3 shows these elements in the locked condition
  • FIG. 4 shows parts of the housing of yet another switch unit
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front-elevational view of a switch assembly of the invention
  • FIG. 6 shows an element of the assembly of FIG. 5 in side elevation
  • FIG. 7 shows a switch assembly according to the invention in elevation and FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated the housing of a switch unit in a switch assembly of the invention which is divided along a plane X-X passing through the switch axis into two parts 2 and 4.
  • a tappet 6 is guided in each part and actuates a contact bridge 8 biased by a spring 10 toward a position of simultaneous engagement with two fixed contact members 12.
  • a cam 14 is rotatably mounted in the two housing parts 2 and 4 of each unit. The cams each have internal teeth adapted to engage with corresponding external teeth on the cam of an adjacent switch unit.
  • each slide 16 engages axially elongated locking rails 18 on the housing parts 2 and 4.
  • the axial length of each slide 16 is such that it can couple together at least two axially adjacent switch units. It will be appreciated that the arts 2 and 4 can be separated from one another in the direction of the arrow A when the slides 16 are removed, and that the switch assembly then comes apart also in the direction of its axis.
  • the housing parts or elements 2, 4, 20, and 22 are held in aligned engagement by the slides 18, 28, which also axially interconnect several switch units.
  • the two housing elements 32 and 34 of a switch unit are coupled by interengaging rails 36, 38 and grooves to form the housing of a switch unit capable of being combined with other units of the same type into a switch assembly by means of slides (not shown) which engage dovetail recesses 40.
  • FIG. 5 shows switch units axially locked by interengaging housing elements.
  • FIG. 5 shows two elements 42 and 44 which constitute the housing of one switch unit and are already held together by a slide 46, and two identical elements 48 and 50 of an axially adjacent unit which are about to be pushed together in the direction of the arrow C.
  • FIG. 6 shows the element 48 to have ribs 52 and dovetail grooves 54 by which the elements 42 and 44 are connected to the elements 48 and 50.
  • the apparatus of FIG. 6 is assembled by sliding the two elements 48 and 50 on the pre-assembled element 42, 44 from both sides in the direction C until they abut against each other, whereupon the slide 46 is axially introduced into the conforming grooves 56 of the elements 48, 50-.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 show a switch assembly consisting of five axially superimposed switch units 60 and a click device 62.
  • the units 60 are of the type shown in FIG. 1 and are held together by two channel-shaped slides 64.
  • the several cams of the switch units are axially interlocked, so that a continuous shaft passing through the switch is obviated.
  • the individual elements of each switch unit are provided with dowel-like, axial projections and corresponding recesses 66 to increase the torsional strength of the assembly.
  • each switch unit preferably consist of thermoplastic synthetic resin compositions, such as super-polyamides.
  • the sub-division of the housings of the several units in accordance with the invention greatly simplifies the necessary molds.
  • An electrical switch assembly comprising, in combination:
  • each unit including housing means of electrically insulating material, a plurality of contacts mounted on said housing means, and actuating means for moving said contacts relative to each other toward and away from a position of engagement,
  • each unit including two housing parts offset transversely of said :axis and having respective axially extending faces, and locking means releasably lock-ing said parts to each other in abutting engagement of said faces thereof;
  • said locking means include a slide member, said slide member and said parts of the housing means being formed with recesses and projections, said slide member forming a pair of elements with each of said housing parts, a recess of one member of each pair receiving a projection of the other member of the pair of guiding simultaneous axial movement of said slide member relative to said housing parts.
  • said locking means include an axially elongated projection on one of said housing parts, and a recess on the other housing part conformingly receiving said projection.

Landscapes

  • Slide Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)

Description

Nov. 15, 1966 K. VOLKER 3,236,070
SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAVING STACKED UNITS WITH SPLIT INSULATING HOUSINGS Filed Sept. 8, 1964 United States Patent 3,286,070 SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAVING STACKED UNITS WITH SPLIT INSULATING HOUSINGS Karl Vfilker, Vienna Austria, assignor to Hubert L. Naimer, Vienna, Austria Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 394,753 Claims priority, application Austria, Sept. 13, 1963,
7 Claims. (21. 200-168) The invention relates to electrical switch assemblies and particularly to an assembly which consists of a plurality of units superimposed in the direction of a common axis.
It has now been found that the installation and securing of metal parts in the housing of each switch unit which consists of insulating material are simplified when the housing is split.
The invention, in one of its aspects, thus resides in an electrical switch assembly the several switch units of which have a common axis and are axially superimposed in each other. Each unit includes a housing of electrically insulating material on which the switch contacts are mounted so that they may be moved relative to each other toward and away from a position of engagement. Each housing includes two parts which are offset transversely of the afore-mentioned axis and have respective axially extending faces which are held in abutting engagement by locking means releasably locking the two housing parts or elements to each other. A coupling device couples the several units to each other. The locking means may include a slide which engages the two housing parts by means of projections and recesses, preferably dovetailed and axially elongated, which are interengaged for guiding simultaneous axial movement of the slide relative to both housing parts.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cam operated switch unit in accordance with the invention without its cover,
FIG. 2 shows disassembled elements of another switch unit, and FIG. 3 shows these elements in the locked condition,
FIG. 4 shows parts of the housing of yet another switch unit,
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front-elevational view of a switch assembly of the invention,
FIG. 6 shows an element of the assembly of FIG. 5 in side elevation,
FIG. 7 shows a switch assembly according to the invention in elevation and FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.
In FIG. 1, there is illustrated the housing of a switch unit in a switch assembly of the invention which is divided along a plane X-X passing through the switch axis into two parts 2 and 4. A tappet 6 is guided in each part and actuates a contact bridge 8 biased by a spring 10 toward a position of simultaneous engagement with two fixed contact members 12. A cam 14 is rotatably mounted in the two housing parts 2 and 4 of each unit. The cams each have internal teeth adapted to engage with corresponding external teeth on the cam of an adjacent switch unit.
The two parts 2 and 4 are held together by channelshaped slides 16 which engage axially elongated locking rails 18 on the housing parts 2 and 4. The axial length of each slide 16 is such that it can couple together at least two axially adjacent switch units. It will be appreciated that the arts 2 and 4 can be separated from one another in the direction of the arrow A when the slides 16 are removed, and that the switch assembly then comes apart also in the direction of its axis.
3,286,070 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the two elements 20 and 22 of a switch unit are assembled by relative movement in the direction of the arrows B, whereby dowel-like projections 24 on element 20 engage corresponding recesses 26 on element 22. Channelshaped slides 28 fit corresponding dovetail grooves 30 in the elements 20 and 22 for locking the same to each other. Recesses 31 receive the conductive switch parts (not shown) and the elements required for actuation of the switch.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing parts or elements 2, 4, 20, and 22 are held in aligned engagement by the slides 18, 28, which also axially interconnect several switch units. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the two housing elements 32 and 34 of a switch unit are coupled by interengaging rails 36, 38 and grooves to form the housing of a switch unit capable of being combined with other units of the same type into a switch assembly by means of slides (not shown) which engage dovetail recesses 40.
Whereas the switch units shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are axially held together by frictional engagement with slides 18, 28, FIG. 5 shows switch units axially locked by interengaging housing elements.
FIG. 5 shows two elements 42 and 44 which constitute the housing of one switch unit and are already held together by a slide 46, and two identical elements 48 and 50 of an axially adjacent unit which are about to be pushed together in the direction of the arrow C. FIG. 6 shows the element 48 to have ribs 52 and dovetail grooves 54 by which the elements 42 and 44 are connected to the elements 48 and 50. The apparatus of FIG. 6 is assembled by sliding the two elements 48 and 50 on the pre-assembled element 42, 44 from both sides in the direction C until they abut against each other, whereupon the slide 46 is axially introduced into the conforming grooves 56 of the elements 48, 50-.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show a switch assembly consisting of five axially superimposed switch units 60 and a click device 62. The units 60 are of the type shown in FIG. 1 and are held together by two channel-shaped slides 64. The several cams of the switch units are axially interlocked, so that a continuous shaft passing through the switch is obviated. The individual elements of each switch unit are provided with dowel-like, axial projections and corresponding recesses 66 to increase the torsional strength of the assembly.
The housing elements of each switch unit preferably consist of thermoplastic synthetic resin compositions, such as super-polyamides. The sub-division of the housings of the several units in accordance with the invention greatly simplifies the necessary molds.
What is claimed is:
1. An electrical switch assembly comprising, in combination:
(a) a plurality of switch units having a common axis and axially superimposed on each other,
( 1) each unit including housing means of electrically insulating material, a plurality of contacts mounted on said housing means, and actuating means for moving said contacts relative to each other toward and away from a position of engagement,
(2) the housing means of each unit including two housing parts offset transversely of said :axis and having respective axially extending faces, and locking means releasably lock-ing said parts to each other in abutting engagement of said faces thereof; and
(b) coupling means axially coupling said units to each other.
2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said faces extend in a common plane passing through saidaxis.
3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking means include a slide member, said slide member and said parts of the housing means being formed with recesses and projections, said slide member forming a pair of elements with each of said housing parts, a recess of one member of each pair receiving a projection of the other member of the pair of guiding simultaneous axial movement of said slide member relative to said housing parts.
4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said projections and recesses are dovetailed and axially elongated.
5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking means include an axially elongated projection on one of said housing parts, and a recess on the other housing part conformingly receiving said projection.
References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 1960 Australia.
ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.
ROBERT S. MACON, Examiner.
H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A PLURALITY OF SWITCH UNITS HAVING A COMMON AXIS AND AXIALLY SUPERIMPOSED ON EACH OTHER, (1) EACH UNIT INCLDING HOUSING MEANS OF ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MATERIAL, A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING MEANS, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CONTACTS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM A POSITION OF ENGAGEMENT, (2) THE HOUSING MEANS OF EACH UNIT INCLUDING TWO HOUSING PARTS OFFSET TRANSVERSELY OF SAID AXIS AND HAVING RESPECTIVE AXIALLY EXTENDING FACES, AND LOCKING MEANS RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID PARTS TO EACH OTHER IN ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID FACES THEREOF; AND (B) COUPLING MEANS AXIALLY COUPLING SAID UNITS TO EACH OTHER.
US394753A 1963-09-13 1964-09-08 Switch assembly having stacked units with split insulating housings Expired - Lifetime US3286070A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT736763A AT248522B (en) 1963-09-13 1963-09-13 Electrical switchgear

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3286070A true US3286070A (en) 1966-11-15

Family

ID=3595342

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US394753A Expired - Lifetime US3286070A (en) 1963-09-13 1964-09-08 Switch assembly having stacked units with split insulating housings

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3286070A (en)
AT (1) AT248522B (en)
BE (1) BE652664A (en)
CH (1) CH424922A (en)
DE (1) DE1490109B1 (en)
DK (1) DK110154C (en)
ES (1) ES303846A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1066627A (en)
NL (1) NL6410534A (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3514554A (en) * 1969-04-18 1970-05-26 Allen Bradley Co Pushbutton assembly
US3970812A (en) * 1974-06-21 1976-07-20 Contraves Ag Plural, stacked side by side switch housing array having discrete housing coupling elements
US3975604A (en) * 1974-12-09 1976-08-17 Appleton Arthur I Modular electrical switch with split housing
US4016387A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-04-05 Rival Manufacturing Company Snap together switch assembly
US4125887A (en) * 1975-03-08 1978-11-14 Elmeg Elektro-Mechnik Gmbh Socket and relay assembly
US4137559A (en) * 1976-06-30 1979-01-30 Elmeg-Elektro-Mechanik Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Socket assembly
US4335288A (en) * 1979-05-07 1982-06-15 Starkstrom Gummersbach Gmbh Electric switching apparatus particularly a cam switch
US4423465A (en) * 1981-09-30 1983-12-27 Teng Ching Weng Combination electronic circuit element with multidirectionally adjustable joints
US4518838A (en) * 1983-02-08 1985-05-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Multipole high voltage circuit breaker
US4564732A (en) * 1982-05-19 1986-01-14 Hi-Tek Corporation Dovetail base assembly for keyswitches
US5392194A (en) * 1992-06-29 1995-02-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Coding device for assembling plugable electrical assemblies into a module

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT7821740V0 (en) * 1978-05-05 1978-05-05 Breter Spa HALF-SHELL ENCLOSURE FOR CONTACTS OF CAM SWITCHES.
DE2905375C3 (en) * 1979-02-13 1981-08-13 Elektra Tailfingen Schaltgeräte GmbH & Co KG, 7470 Albstadt Cam switches in shell design
DE3220840C2 (en) * 1982-06-03 1985-04-25 Brown, Boveri & Cie Ag, 6800 Mannheim Flameproof, explosion-proof electrical switching device

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH351646A (en) * 1956-08-28 1961-01-31 Hubert Naimer Device for connecting structural units of electrical devices which consist of a plurality of units that can be assembled in a modular manner
AT205578B (en) * 1957-11-28 1959-10-10 Naimer H L Device for mutually positionally correct fixing of components of an electrical switch arranged axially one behind the other or the like.
DE1796767U (en) * 1958-09-26 1959-10-01 Metzenauer & Jung G M B H ELECTRIC CAM SWITCH.

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3514554A (en) * 1969-04-18 1970-05-26 Allen Bradley Co Pushbutton assembly
US3970812A (en) * 1974-06-21 1976-07-20 Contraves Ag Plural, stacked side by side switch housing array having discrete housing coupling elements
US3975604A (en) * 1974-12-09 1976-08-17 Appleton Arthur I Modular electrical switch with split housing
US4125887A (en) * 1975-03-08 1978-11-14 Elmeg Elektro-Mechnik Gmbh Socket and relay assembly
US4016387A (en) * 1975-06-09 1977-04-05 Rival Manufacturing Company Snap together switch assembly
US4137559A (en) * 1976-06-30 1979-01-30 Elmeg-Elektro-Mechanik Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Socket assembly
US4335288A (en) * 1979-05-07 1982-06-15 Starkstrom Gummersbach Gmbh Electric switching apparatus particularly a cam switch
US4423465A (en) * 1981-09-30 1983-12-27 Teng Ching Weng Combination electronic circuit element with multidirectionally adjustable joints
US4564732A (en) * 1982-05-19 1986-01-14 Hi-Tek Corporation Dovetail base assembly for keyswitches
US4518838A (en) * 1983-02-08 1985-05-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Multipole high voltage circuit breaker
US5392194A (en) * 1992-06-29 1995-02-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Coding device for assembling plugable electrical assemblies into a module

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE652664A (en) 1964-12-31
ES303846A1 (en) 1964-11-01
DE1490109B1 (en) 1970-05-27
NL6410534A (en) 1964-11-25
DK110154C (en) 1969-07-28
CH424922A (en) 1966-11-30
GB1066627A (en) 1967-04-26
AT248522B (en) 1966-08-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3286070A (en) Switch assembly having stacked units with split insulating housings
US3259699A (en) Assembly mounting and interlocking means for plural pushbutton switches
US4284320A (en) Electrical connector
US3436497A (en) Electrical switch having a lost motion operator assembly
US3944760A (en) Switch assembly having slider actuator insulating plate inserted between normally closed contacts
US3242273A (en) Composite sliding switch housing
EP1473750A1 (en) Electro-mechanical switching device
US2919315A (en) Electric switch
US3350530A (en) Switches for use with flexible printed circuits
US3175066A (en) Plunger actuated switch using integral leaf spring contacts
WO1999054897A1 (en) Switching device with interrupter chamber module
US4383144A (en) Pushbutton switch
US3119906A (en) Wiping contact rotary switch
US3355565A (en) Slide switch indexing device including spring detent means
US3735059A (en) Sliding switch assembly with spring-biased contact and multi-sectional housing
DE2846213A1 (en) Narrow fitting electrical switch of built-in type - consists of two halves separated by insulating partition, with set of contacts in each half, operated by common element
EP0860846B1 (en) Electrical power regulator, in particular for electric heaters
DE7426189U (en) Auxiliary switch attachment for line circuit breaker
US2649514A (en) Electric switch
US2756291A (en) Switch with reversible contacts and reversible contact carrier
EP0452714B1 (en) Interlocking device for electromagnetic switching devices
US2846528A (en) Selective switches
US4144419A (en) Push-button actuated slide switch
JP3596971B2 (en) Slide operation type switch
US2814681A (en) Electric switch assemblage