GB974780A - Improvements in and relating to electric switches - Google Patents

Abstract

974,780. Press button retractive switches. CUTLER-HAMMER Inc. May 28, 1963 [May 28, 1962], No. 21373/63. Heading H2B. In an electric switch, means are provided for preselecting a switch contact combination which is to be actuated by an actuating member and lost motion exists between a rotatable selector and the moving contact carrier. The switch comprises a base 2 carrying four fixed leaf spring contacts 16, 18, 20, 22, a contact carrier 26 with two bridging contacts 32, 34, a trigger 8 and a selector 10 with a shaft passing through the trigger 8 and engaging the end wall of the carrier 26. The base 2 is separated from a metal switch frame 4 by an insulating plate 6. The shaft 10a of the selector has raised portions 10e which engages ridges on the carrier 26 to rotate the carrier through 90 degrees so that contact 32 bridges contacts 18, 20 rather than contacts 16, 18 and contact 34 bridges contacts 16, 22 rather than 20, 22 as shown in Fig. 5. Initially the selector 10 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 (not shown) and after rotating it 90 degrees the shaft 10a is in the position shown in Fig. 5, but after a further 90 degrees, the carrier 26 is rotated so that bridging contacts 32, 34 are moved to their second position. Ridges 8g on trigger 8 engage grooves 10b in the selector to locate the two positions in which the switch may be actuated by depressing the selector and trigger, a ridge on the selector moves within a groove 8d in the trigger and also a knob on the trigger moves in a slot in the carrier 26 to prevent further rotation of the selector or carrier. Springs 12, 14 which fit in recesses 8h in the trigger and engage the frame 4 retract the trigger and selector, while spring 24 provides snap action indexing, or may be omitted if springs 12 and 14 are strong enough. The trigger may be retained in its depressed position by a locating pin engaging a recess in the trigger, Fig. 2 (not shown). In another embodiment, the head of the selector fits into a recess in the trigger and forms only part of the end of the trigger, Fig. 11 (not shown). Specification 973,549 is referred to.