GB1416532A - Electrical switches - Google Patents

Abstract

1416532 Mechanical switches LUCAS ELECTRICAL CO Ltd 12 Feb 1973 [16 Feb 1972] 7087/72 Heading H1N A switch in which an insulating actuating member 2, Fig. 1, is movable relative to a switch body 1 to a first, second or third (rest) position has a relatively rigid contact arm 14 mounted to the body by a resilient flexible arm 12, the contact arm 14 being movable by a lobe 23 or 22 of the actuating member to be electrically connected to a first fixed contact 3 in its first position, or to a second fixed contact 6 in its second position or to neither of these contacts in its third position but wherein it abuts against another fixed contact 10 and a pair of stops 16, 17. Rib 9 provides an insulating attachment point for a fixed contact 8 which is permanently connected to the arm 12 and an insulating spacer 20 is interposed between the arm and the fixed contact 10. In the first embodiment of Figs. 1, 2, 3 the internal contact parts are duplicated to form a double-pole switch having a common actuator member pivoted to the body and each pole of the switch is actuated in a similar manner. In a second embodiment, Figs. 4, 5, 6 (not shown), the first pole of the switch is similar to that described above but the first and second fixed contacts (32, 33) are U-shaped and common to both poles. The movable contact arm for the second pole is in the form of a resilient member (38) attached to the body and in permanent engagement with a fixed contact (39). Instead of the lobes (41, 42) a single finger (43) on the actuator member (40) acts on one or other end of the resilient member (38) to engage it in electrical contact with fixed terminal (32) or (32) for the first and second positions respectively. All fixed contacts extend through the switch base in the form of integral spade terminals.