US626918A - Electrical switch - Google Patents

Description

No. 626,9l8.

rimmed lune I3, 18% P. MEDARY.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

(Application filed Sept. 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Qwvcmeoow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL MEDARY, OF OYN\VYD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VINCENT A. CLARKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,918, dated June 13, 1899. Application filed September 2, 1898. Serial No. 690,132. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: ing parts, resulting in simplicity'of construc- Be it known that I, PAUL MEDARY, a citition and durability. zen of the United States, residing at Oynwyd, The objects of the invention are accomin the county of Montgomery and State of plished by a construction as illustrated in Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and the accompanying drawings, wherein useful Improvements in Electrical Switches; Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved and I do hereby declare the following to be a switch. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical secfull, clear, and exact description of theinvention of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view with tion, such as will enable others skilled in the the cap-plate removed. Fig. 4 is a longitu- IO art to which it appertainsto make and use dinal section of the push-rod and its associthe same. ated collars, showing the rod in elevation.

This invention relates to improvements in Theconstruction shown in the drawings has electrical switches designed more particularly by actual test been found to be eminently for use in connection with circuits for'incansatisfactory. Itis to be understood, however,

[5 descent lights; and the invention is embodied that the invention is not necessarily limited 6 5' in the construction and arrangement of parts to the exact construction shown, for it is evihereinafter described, and defined in the dent that changes in arrangement, proporclaims. tion, and details can be made without de- It is a well-known fact that there are many parting from the nature and principle of the 2o defects found to exist in and objections to the invention.

well-known form of push-button for mak Adesignates a supporting-block, of insulat- 1 ing or breaking a circuit, and the same may ing material, formed with a central longitube said to be true with relation to the turndinal bore having enlargements at its oppobutton type of switch. In the former type site ends, inwhich are inserted and secured 25 a complicated mechanism and spring-actuin any convenient manner electrical termiated members are necessary, the complicated nals B 13, con veniently of brass or other suitnature of the mechanism and use of the spring able material. These terminals are preferoften resulting in the displacement of the ably of uniform length, and their interior parts as well as the wearing out or breaking diameter corresponds with the diameter of 0 of some of the connections. In the turn the bore of the block, thereby forming a conbutton type it is sometimes found that pertinuous bore through the block and termisons not entirely familiar with the same will nals, which is of uniform diameter throughendeavor to turn on the light by turning the out. Each terminal has an offset b b convenbutton in the wrong direction, and, further, iently arranged in opposite directions relative 3 5 that the necessity of turning the lights out to each other and each provided'with bindingby a continuous turning of the button or hanposts or screws 0 O. The upper portion of the dle is quite perplexing to certain individuals block is chambered, as at D, in which the offwho have originally been used to the turning set and binding-posts at the upper or outer on of gas,which requires a reverse movement end are located;

0 to extinguish the light. E designates a metallic cap-plate spanning My invention is designed to overcome the the chambered end of the block and haying difficulties and objections existingin the presa central opening 6, through which the push ent-known devices, and it may be stated as or switch rod passes. consisting generally in a switch of that type The block A is conveniently of cylindrical 45 wherein the making and breaking of a circuit formation, although any formation desirable 5 are accomplished by a direct in-and-out pull may be employed, and the same is formed with Y of the movable member. an eccentrically-arranged longitudinal chan- A further object of the invention is the pronel a, conveniently located adjacent to the duction of a very simple switch which will offset 1) of the terminal B, for purposes pres- 5o embody the fewest possible number of movently to be stated. 10o

' h on the inner end of the bushing H.

The pushing or switch rod is of the following formations: F designates a metallic pin or stem having a threaded upper or outer end, on which is placed an insulated handpiece G. H and H are metallic bushings arranged,

respectively, on the opposite ends of the pin F, while H is an insulated bushing or sleeve, 7

conveniently of porcelain,interposed between the metallic bushings. The bushings and insulated sleeve are held on the pin F in any convenient manner, conveniently by the end of the handpiece and the pin K, passing through the transverse opening in the inner end of the bushing H and stem 1*. This pin K is bent outwardly parallel with the stem and is adapted to enter the pocket- 70 formed in the block, and thereby serves to prevent the rotation of the push-rod. To limit the outward movement of the push-rod, I con- Veniently form an enlargement or shoulder This shoulder is designed to come in contact with the terminal B when the push-rod is drawn out to its full extent. The inward movement of the push rod is limited by a shoulder formed on the handpiece, as shown, the same engaging the cap-plate. In switches of this nature it is expedient and desirable to have some means of indicating that the rod has been moved to the proper point, and it is also necessary that a close contact between the metallic surfaces should be had when the circuit is formed. To provide for this, I have formed, conveniently, pockets in the metallic bushings and in the insulated sleeve. The pockets in the sleeve are arranged in close proximity to each other, and the distance from the pocket Z to the pocket 1 is the same as the distance from the pocket Z to the pocket 1 1 The block A is formed with two transverse chambers, in which are placed coil-springs L and L, the inner ends resting against the metallic balls M and M, which project partly through circular perforations formed in the terminals B and B, the diameter of these perforations being less than the diameter of the balls, whereby the balls are prevented from being pushed through the openings in case the push-rod is removed.

To retain the springs in their position in the chamber and vary the tension thereof, the insulated screw-plugs N are threaded in the outer ends of the spring-containing chamhers.

The terminal B is of a length somewhat greater than the length of the metallic bushing H, while the-terminal B is substantially the length of the metallic bushing H, and the bushings are so located on the rod or stem that the bushing II will at all times be in contact or located within the terminal B, While the bushing H is at all times out of contact with the terminal B until the push-rod is drawn out, thereby drawing the bushing H into the hollow terminal B. This movement of the push-rod carries the bushing H into the upper portion of the terminal B, thereby forming or completing the circuit through the metal stem.

The spring-pressed balls, it will be noticed, at all times press against the bushings and insulated collar and are so located relative to each other that when the push-rod is forced in one of the balls will be located in the pocket in the bushing H, while the other will be located in the pocket of the sleeve, and when the rod ispulled out the balls will oc' cupy the pockets Z and Z As the balls are forced into the pockets there is an audible and perceptible click and a marked increased resistance, indicating that the rod has been adjusted to the proper point. This, as has been stated, is very desirable in this class of switches.

The constant pressure of the spring on the balls is sufficient to at all times force the bush ings and sleeve into close contact with the terminals, thereby taking up any wear which may occur after long use.

0 designates a cap fitted on the inner end of the block conveniently by screws 0. This cap has two openings P and Q, through which wires X X pass. The former is attached to the binding-post of the terminal B, while the latter is carried up through the channel a and is attached to the binding-post of the terminal B. It will be noticed that the rotation of the switch-rod is prevented in a manner, as above stated, thereby holding the pockets in their proper position relative to the balls. This is also useful, inasmuch as it serves to indicate that the switch is not a turnswitch, thus avoiding confusion.

It is thought that from the above description the operation of the switch will be readily understood. I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the pocket construction described and shown, as obviously other arrangements as grooves or projections could be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isc 1. In an electrical switch of the character described, the combination with an insulating-block having fixed terminals spaced apart and secured thereto, and a longitudinal bore of a reciprocating switch-rod having metal sections spaced apart and an interposed insulating-section, a chamber formed at the outer end of the block, a longitudinal channel formed in the block and conductors, one of which passes through said channel and is connected with the outer terminal, the other of which is connected with the inner terminal, substantially as described.

2. In a switch of the character described, the combination with an insulating-block, of hollow terminals secured at the opposite ends of the block, conductors connected respectively with the terminals, a reciprocating push-rod passing through the block andter- V minals and having on its opposite end metallie bushings and an interposed insulatingsleeve, and yielding means carried by the block independent of the push-rod for forcing the push-rod firmly against the terminals, substantially as described.

3. In a-switch of the character described, the combination with an insulating-block, of a reciprocating push-rod located therein, having metallic contact-surfaces and insulating-section interposed between same, each formed with depressions,sprin -pressed members secured in the block arranged to engage in said depressions and terminals carried by the block with which the insulating and metallic sections of the push-rod engage, substantially as described.

4. In an electrical switch, the combination with an insulating-block having terminals thereon, of a push-rod passing through the block and having metallic surfaces thereon one of which is in constant engagement with one terminal while the other is arranged to engage the other terminal only when the rod is moved outward, spring-pressed holding devices engaging depressions in the metallic surfaces, and means on the rod for preventing rotation of the same, substantially as described.

5. In an electrical switch, the combination with an insulating-block having hollow terminals at the opposite ends, of a reciprocating push-rod passing through the block and ter minals having metallic bushings thereon and an interposed insulating-sleeve each formed with pockets in their outer faces, and springpressed balls secured in the terminals and arranged to engage in the pockets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL MEDARY.

Witnesses:

V CHATTIN BRADWAY,

'L. S. BACON.

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