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US3432632A - Electrical snap action switch - Google Patents

Electrical snap action switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3432632A
US3432632A US581306A US3432632DA US3432632A US 3432632 A US3432632 A US 3432632A US 581306 A US581306 A US 581306A US 3432632D A US3432632D A US 3432632DA US 3432632 A US3432632 A US 3432632A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
contact
spring
lever
angle
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
US581306A
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English (en)
Inventor
Werner Schenke
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.)
J&J Marquardt KG
Original Assignee
J&J Marquardt KG
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 J&J Marquardt KG filed Critical J&J Marquardt KG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3432632A publication Critical patent/US3432632A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/26—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members
    • H01H13/28—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members using compression or extension of coil springs

Definitions

  • An electrical switch includes a housing with an interior cavity having a pair of spaced fixed contacts therein.
  • the switch mechanism includes an actuating angle lever which is povotally mounted at its one end and, includes two portions at right angles to each other one of which extends across the housing cavity.
  • a movable contact arm extends through the cavity and through a slot in a support angle, and between two stop elements formed by the housing, and it includes a contact button formation on each side disposed between the fixed contacts.
  • a tipping member is articulated to the lower end of the portion of the angle lever, which extends across the cavity, and to the movable contact arm.
  • a spring is secured at one end to the supporting angle, which extends across the cavity, and at its opposite end to the contact arm. The single spring element both aids in the snap actuation of the contact by the depression of a ram member against the angle lever and it also permits the return of the contact to a neutral position after the actuating ram member is released.
  • the movable contact is moved through an arcuate path so that there is a wiping action between the movable contact and the associated one of the fixed contacts during the actutation of the switch, so that the contacts are cleaned by this action.
  • This invention relates, in general, to switch constructions and, in particular, to a new and useful electrical switch which includes a movable contact arm supported on an angle support member and biased 'by a spring so that it forms an angle with the axis of the spring in the neutral position and urges the actuating lever for the switch to a rest position against the actuating button.
  • the invention deals, in particular, with an electric switch which includes a contact arm switch lever which is snappable between two fixed contacts and which carries at its free end a contact which is movable selectively into association with the two fixed contacts.
  • the switch of this type includes an actuating lever and a tipping member held between the lever and the movable contact carrier. Switches of this nature are known under the general designation of snap or micro switches. These special characteristic is the snap action switching of the contacts.
  • Switches without suitable resili- 3,432,632 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 once or storing capacity require an additional spring element. While it is possible to design a switch element as a spring element by adapting the proper form, the high grade material required causes an undesirable increase in cost of the switch.
  • a simple switch construction in which two fixed contact carriers are arranged to present fixed contacts within the interior of a housing on each side of a movable contact which is carried on an arm member which may be moved between two stops of a simply constructed support angle.
  • the support angle also provides a means for mounting a spring which is advantageously arranged so that its axis will be disposed between the two fixed contacts and it will bias the movable contact carrier in a position against one stop formed on the angle member.
  • the switch is characterized by a simple construction which includes an actuating lever which is pivoted in the housing and which is connected through a tipping member to the movable contact arm. The tipping member is advantageously supported between the actuating lever and the movable arm on knife edges. In the neutral position at which one of the fixed contacts is engaged by the movable contact, the actuating lever will be biased upwardly against the actuating button or ram.
  • a further feature of the construction is that when the movable arm is in a neutral position, it forms .a certain angle in respect to the axis of the spring which corresponds substantially to the angle which is formed by the movable contact arm and the spring when it is in .an actuated position engaged with the other contact.
  • the switch requires only thesimple parts including the actuating lever, the tipping member, the movable contact carrier arm and the spring, it is a simple matter to construct such a spring and to assemble the parts within a switch housing.
  • the construction is such that, until the snap contact jumps over, the contact pressure is maintained at a finite value.
  • the contacts are moved to slide on each other during the switching process resulting in a known very useful self-cleaning effect.
  • a further advantage of the construction is that the ram or actuating button may be slowly displaced in or- ;der to etfect. a good utilization of the current loadability of the contacts because the contact force always exhibits a finite value.
  • the above advantages make is possible to use a switch of the invention for application where snap switches of conventional design could not be used because of their tendency to faulty operation. This is especially so in respect to use in a system'which is subject to high vibration and there is a requirement for shock stability.
  • the switch parts are arranged so that when the actuating force is removed, the displaced movable contact arm is automatically returned to its starting or neutral position without any additional returning spring or other parts.
  • the switch can be used as a reversing switch.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a micro switch which includes a housing in which is located a supporting angle which provides a mounting for a spring for a movable contact arm which may be moved to cause a contact at one end to engage selectively one or the other of two fixed contacts and which has an opposite end which will be urged against a stop member of the angle member in each position.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microswitch constructed in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial elevational and partial axial sectional view of the switch of FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic representations of parts of the switch indicated in a neutral position and a reversing or actuated position, respectively and FIGS. .5 through 8 are diagrammatic representations of the switch illustrating the forces acting in different positions of the switch.
  • the invention embodied therein comprises a :microswitch having a substantially box-shaped switch housing a which includes a cover portion b permanently enclosing an interior snap mechanism chamber.
  • the cover b is fastened to a complementary housing part a such as by rivets or other suitable fastening means 6.
  • the housing defines an interior space permitting assembly of the necessary switch parts in a simple manner.
  • the switch includes fixed contact members d and e which include portions projecting outwardly to the exterior of the housing and defining spaced terminals to permit the switch to be plugged into an electrical circuit.
  • the contact members d and e carry fixed contacts 7'' and g, respectively, which are arranged in fixed spaced relationship within the interior of the housing.
  • the snap actuating mechanism for the switch includes a supporting angle member generally designated h which includes a fiat portion 71' which rests against one wall of the interior of the housing, a transverse portion h which extends across the housing and through the opposite wall, and angled portions h' and h" which are arranged on the exterior of the housing for mechanically mounting the switch, for example.
  • the supporting angle h includes an opening in the flat part h which forms a pivot support v for an actuating angle lever member k.
  • the actuating lever member k is pivotally connected through a tipping member r to a movable contact arm or switch lever n.
  • the movable contact arm n extends through a slot x defined in the transverse portion h" of the supporting angle h.
  • the walls of the part h" on each end of the slot x define fixed stops t and u, respectively.
  • An actuating ram or button I is slidably mounted in a wall of the housing and bears against the actuating lever k.
  • the button is provided with a longitudinally extending groove which receives the actuating lever.
  • a helical spring m is hooked at its one end on the transverse portion h" of the supporting angle 11.
  • the spring in urges a movable contact member 0' against the fixed contact 1 and the contact carrier arm n is disposed at an angle a in respect to the axis of the spring.
  • the spring in is connected to the movable arm at its end opposite its connection to the supporting angle h at the location C in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • the end of the carrying arm n is pressed against the knife edge p formed on the tipping member r which, in turn, includes a knife edge s which bears against the actuating lever k to maintain it in a position urging the button I upwardly.
  • the point of suspension for the helical spring m is located approximately midway between an upper stop t and a lower stop u formed by the transverse portion h" of the supporting angle h.
  • the deflection angles a and a of the contact arm n are determined by the end positions of the arm against the respective stops t and u.
  • the switch is operated as follows:
  • the lines designated A-B and C-D are imaginary median lines of the contact arm switch lever n and the helical extension spring m, respectively.
  • the lever Upon exerting pressure on angle actuating lever k through button, the lever is moved downwardly against the knife edge s of the tipping member 1' toward the line A-B of the contact arm switch lever it.
  • the end of the contact arm switch lever n which initially rests against the stop u jumps to the stop I and the movable contact 0 disengages from the fixed contact 1 and the movable contact 0 engages the fixed contact g.
  • the switch lever arm n has been moved through the line C-D of the spring m in a sudden movement.
  • the switch position indicated in FIG. 4 persists as long as the force of the actuating button remains active.
  • the movement of the composite snap mechanism automatically occurs in a reversed direction due to the resilience of the spring m acting on the actuating lever k.
  • the knife bearing edge s describes an arc around the pivot bearing v so that a sliding movement is transmitting through the tipping member r to the contact arm switch lever 11 and hence to the reversing contacts 0 and o. In this manner, the contacts are wiped clean so that there will be no tendency for any pitting or similar arcing effects to remain on the contact. In addition, this action will ensure that there will be no likelihood that the contacts become welded in a closed position since they will be forced opened.
  • the movable contact on the end of contact arm n snaps from fixed contact 7 to the opposite fixed contact g.
  • the end of contact arm n articulated to tipping member r has first snapped from stop it to stop t.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates the position of the parts after the reversal of the contact engagement and removal of the force on the operating button I.
  • the spring force F In the position of the part shown in FIG. 7, only the spring force F is effected, and this produces reaction forces L1 on fixed contact g and L2 on stop t.
  • the component F"x of spring force component Fx, and Whose action line is spaced a distance a from the fulcrum v of angle lever k, produces, 0n angle lever k, a moment acting counterclockwise. Consequently, both tipping member r and angle lever k snap back to their starting position.
  • a switch of this character is especially useful for systems in which the actuating button I must be moved slowly.
  • the actuation is such that the contacts break away sharply so that burning off of the contacts and continuous sparking which would be likely when disconnecting inductive loads, for example, will not occur and thus the switch will not be subject to early deterioration of malfunctioning.
  • An electrical switch comprising a housing defining an interior switch cavity, a pair of spaced fixed contacts mounted in said cavty, an actuating angle lever pivotally mounted at its one end in said cavity and having a first portion and a second portion extending at an angle to said first portion in a direction across said housing cavity, a supporting angle pivotally supporting said actuatin g lever and having a portion extending across said cavity with an opening therethrough and walls defining a stop at each end of the opening, a movable contact arm extending through the opening of said support angle and having movable contact means adjacent one end disposed between and selectively contactable with a respective one of said spaced fixed contacts, a spring having one end secured to said angle member and an opposite end extending toward said fixed contacts and secured to said movable contact arm, a tipping member pivotally connected between said second portion of said actuating lever and the end of said contact arm which extends through said opening away from said spaced fixed contacts, an actuating angle lever pivotally mounted at its one end in said cavity and having
  • actuating button engageable with said actuating lever and being movable against said actuating lever to displace said actuating lever from the neutral to an actuated position
  • said spring basing said actuating lever against said actuating button in a neutral position and causing one end of said contact arm to rest against one of the steps of the opening of the supporting angle and to present said contact means in engagement with one of said fixed contacts, said actuating lever being movable to snap said contact arm to a position moved across the axis of said spring and to rest against the other of said stops defined at the other end of the opening in said supporting angle, the axis of said contact arm being movable through a plane beyond the axis of said spring when said spring is snapped to an actuated position and when it is returned from an actuated position to a neutral position.
  • said spaced fixed contacts include portions extending through said housing defining at the exterior of the housing spaced plug terminals for plugging said switch into an electrical circuit.
  • An electrical switch according to claim 1, wherein said actuating button is slidably mounted in said housing and said supporting angle includes a portion extending outwardly from said housing for connecting said switch.

Landscapes

  • Tumbler Switches (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
US581306A 1965-09-23 1966-09-22 Electrical snap action switch Expired - Lifetime US3432632A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DESCH37766A DE1291399B (de) 1965-09-23 1965-09-23 Elektrischer Tastschalter mit Doppelschnappfunktion

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3432632A true US3432632A (en) 1969-03-11

Family

ID=7434434

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US581306A Expired - Lifetime US3432632A (en) 1965-09-23 1966-09-22 Electrical snap action switch

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3432632A (de)
DE (1) DE1291399B (de)
GB (1) GB1154003A (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5492376U (de) * 1977-11-30 1979-06-29
US4253001A (en) * 1978-07-14 1981-02-24 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Snap action switch
US4342885A (en) * 1980-03-27 1982-08-03 Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. Limit switch
FR2520922A1 (fr) * 1982-02-01 1983-08-05 Metzenauer & Jung Gmbh Interrupteur electrique a action brusque
FR2529380A1 (fr) * 1982-02-09 1983-12-30 Inst Vzryvozaschischennogo R Micro-interrupteur
US4908485A (en) * 1984-03-22 1990-03-13 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Push-button switch
US4929808A (en) * 1989-06-13 1990-05-29 Otto Engineering, Inc. Electrical switch component and switches formed thereby
US6492606B1 (en) 2001-08-21 2002-12-10 Electroswitch Corporation Snap action switch

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH664234A5 (de) * 1982-06-21 1988-02-15 Vni Pk I T I Vzryvozaschi Mikroschalter.
DE3515721A1 (de) * 1984-10-09 1986-11-06 Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co KG, 5880 Lüdenscheid Elektrischer schnappschalter
TWM462435U (zh) * 2013-04-08 2013-09-21 Dolphin Technology Co Ltd 開關裝置及其開關座體

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2728826A (en) * 1952-02-09 1955-12-27 W L Maxson Corp Snap action switch
US2800546A (en) * 1954-10-19 1957-07-23 Reitler Paul Miniature switch

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2508040A (en) * 1946-04-15 1950-05-16 First Ind Corp Snap acting mechanism
US2729714A (en) * 1950-10-21 1956-01-03 Frederick J Broch Double snap action switch
AT221157B (de) * 1959-12-11 1962-05-10 Herbert Baumer Elektrischer Schalter
DE1151584B (de) * 1960-03-25 1963-07-18 Eberle & Koehler K G Elektrischer Doppel-Schnappschalter

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2728826A (en) * 1952-02-09 1955-12-27 W L Maxson Corp Snap action switch
US2800546A (en) * 1954-10-19 1957-07-23 Reitler Paul Miniature switch

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5492376U (de) * 1977-11-30 1979-06-29
JPS5729476Y2 (de) * 1977-11-30 1982-06-28
US4253001A (en) * 1978-07-14 1981-02-24 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Snap action switch
US4342885A (en) * 1980-03-27 1982-08-03 Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. Limit switch
FR2520922A1 (fr) * 1982-02-01 1983-08-05 Metzenauer & Jung Gmbh Interrupteur electrique a action brusque
FR2529380A1 (fr) * 1982-02-09 1983-12-30 Inst Vzryvozaschischennogo R Micro-interrupteur
US4908485A (en) * 1984-03-22 1990-03-13 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Push-button switch
US4929808A (en) * 1989-06-13 1990-05-29 Otto Engineering, Inc. Electrical switch component and switches formed thereby
US6492606B1 (en) 2001-08-21 2002-12-10 Electroswitch Corporation Snap action switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1154003A (en) 1969-06-04
DE1291399B (de) 1969-03-27

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