US1702287A - Electbic switch - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1929.

' 1,702,287 w. G WILLIAMS- ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug. 23, 1926 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I fizz/812701 M4275 G. ZHZZZZZZi/ls y wfwa Feb. 19, 1929.

w. G. WILLIAMS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug. 25. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,287

w. G. WILLIAMS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Au .2s; 192 s. s Sheets-Sheet 3 PATENT OFFICE.

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ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed A'ugu'st 23, 1926. Serial No. 130,800.

This invention relates to certain novel im provemen'ts in electric switches and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. My invention relates more especially to a class of electric switches wherein an auxiliary electric switch is associated .with a main or primary switch in such manner that a predetermined length of time will be caused to elapse afterthe primary switch is actuated before the translating device, electric lamp or the like included in the switch circuit is cut out by the automatic operation of the auxiliary switch.

In a Patent No. 1,562,020 grantedto me on November-17, 1925; I show and describe a switch of the kind addressed to the auxiliaryswitch, that is to say, the switch member involving the time element. In the construction shown therein the main switch was actually shifted to open the load circuit and "the auxiliary switch involving the time element alone maintained the closure of the circuit until the .25 time period had elapsed, when it shifted to open said circuit.v The contacts maintaining the closure of the circuit in that construction were comparatively light and the make and break at the contacts when the switch was shifted to open the circuit were not as quick as desired by the underwriters in a switchof the kind. a

The object of my invention is to produce a switch mechanism, includin an auxiliary time el ment switch member, In which are included he heavy contacts for the load current and the" quick make and break at the contacts.

provided in the normal standard snap switch.

In illustrating and describing my invention I have shown it as including the same time element auxiliary as that disclosed in my above mentioned patent, but it will be under tion.

The advantages "of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings-- I Figure 1 is a view representing a'front elevation of the improved switch device.

5 switch mechanism representing the switch stood that this is merely by way of illustra-.

Figure 2 is a view on a somewhat larger members in different positions as will be more clearly hereinafter described.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the switch mechanism.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views of the contact members of the auxiliary switch mecha-' nism showing them in different-positions.

Figure 9 is a detail section on an enlarged scale indicated by the line 99 in Figure 3.

' Figures 10 and 11 are detail sectional views of the time element of the auxiliary switch mechanism shown in different positions corresponding respectively to the positions of the contact members shown respectively in Figures 7 and 8.

,Figures 12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views showing the several positions occupied by the different members of the switch mechanism.

Figure 15 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of certain of the parts of the switch mechanism, the plane of the section being indicatedby the line 15-15 of Figure 2, and the parts as shown insaid section being in the position as illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring nowto that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 12, 10, 10 indicate the line conductors of an electriccircuit in which is located the translating device to be controlled, inthis case a lamp 11. The

circuit includes a standard snap switch 12 of familiar construction. 13 indicates the time a 1 element member and14 indicates an electromagnet in series with'the time element member. 15 indicates a s ring-controlled trigger which acts to lock t e snap switch against release the snap switch, whereupon the snap switch will instantly operate under the pressure of its spring in the usual manner to open the circuit. i

The snap switch 12, the auxiliary time element switch 13 and'the electro-magnet and its trigger 15 are mounted on a base of insulation material 16.

17 indicate= an insulation arm pivoted in a frame18 mounted on the insulation base 16. The arm extends through an aperture 19 in the insulation base so as to be gotten at by the one operating the switch. 20' indicates a U-fmme pivotally connected to the frame,18

with a spring thrust member 22 interposed between the cross-member of the U-bar 20 and its pivotal connection to the frame 18 in such manner that when the arms 21 are swung becontact member having oppositely disposed bifurcated ends 24, 24 which engage the usual switch blades 25, 26.

When the snap switch comprising the above arts is in position to close the circuit to the lamp or other .translating device 11, the parts are as shown in Figure 3, with the main contact member 23 bridging the two contact members 25, 26. In the ordinary operation of a snap switch of the kind a shift of the operating arm 17 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 5 would act to shift the contact member 23 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Fi re 5, where the jaws 24 have been complete y disengaged from the knife contacts 25, 26. In order to make use of this snap switch member in connection with a time element which will delay the action of the switch to break the contact, after .the switch arm 17 has been shifted, the electro-magnet 14 and the trigger 15 are associated with the snap switch in such manner that the trigger 15 will engage the crossmember of the U-bar 20 and block its further movement (when the operating arm 17 has been shifted to open the circuit), with the contact member 23 still bridging the contacts 25, 26 as shown in Figure 4. The trigger member 15 is mounted on an angular spring 27, which in turn is attached to the frame 18 adjacent the U-bar 20. The spring 27 at once provides a pivot for the trigger member 15 and a s ring to maintain it with its hooked end 15 in the path of movement of the U-bar 20. When the electro-magnet 14 is magnetized it will attract the end of the trigger bar 15 remote from its hooked end 15 so as to swing the hooked end from its engagement with the U-bar 20 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. This releases the said U-bar and permits the switch to operate in its normal manner to snap the contact member 23 from its engagement with the contacts 25 and 26.

The operation of the magnet 14 is controlled by the time element member of the device. his may be any convenient element of the kind but as shown it is substantially like that disclosed in my previous patent hereinbefore referred to. It comprises a block 28 loosely mounted on a. horizontal pivot pin 29 projecting forwardly from and fixed to the insulation base 16. The block 28 is made of any suitable material and is cored, bored or otherwise formed to provide within it two 'laterally spaced-parallel chambers or pockets 30, 30. Said ockets extend nearly the full len h of the block, which is flat and of but litt e greater thickness than the diameter of the pockets 30. Said pockets open at one end through the front edge of the block, where they areclosed by plugs 31, 31 (see Figure 2). The plugs are made ofany suitable porous material adapted to permit an inflow and outflow of air to'and from the pockets 30. The pockets are connected near the bottom face of the block by a tubular channel 32 extending transversel ofthe block. Near the top face of the bloc is formeda journal opening for the horizontal pivot pin 29 above referred to, the same extending parallel to the length of the block and of the pockets 30, 30 and being located in a plane midway between said pockets.

The pivot pin 29 is made of conducting metal and is fixed in the insulation base 16. The rear end part 29 of said pin extends through the base and constitutes one terminal of the switch. The outer end of the pivot pin has bearing in a metal conducting bushing 29 which is fixed in the block near its edge and extends through and is connected to a bifurcated contact plate 33 attached to the edge of the block. Said contact plate has laterally spaced tines 33, 33. In this case, in addition to the metal contact plate 33, there is a heavier similarly formed bifurcated insulation plate 34 having tines 34, 34 corresponding to the tines 33*, 33 of the contact plate. 5

35 indicates a contact pin carried by a horizontally swinging arm 36, which is mounted on a bracket plate 37 projecting from the base 16. Said contact pin projects into the space between the tines of the contact plate 33 and of the insulation plate 34 and is adapted to engage either of said tines. The pivotal axis of the arm 36 is located above and in the vertical plane containing the horizontal pivot pin 29 of the block 28, so that said arm is capable of swinging the contact pin 35 to either side of said vertical plane. By reason of the engagement of the contact pin 35 with one or the other of the tines of the insulation plate 34, the block 28 may be oscillated by means of the arm 36 to bring one or the other of the ockets 30 to a position elevated above that 0 its companion pocket as shown in the drawings.-

The bracket plate 37 forms the second terminal of the auxiliary member of the switch. The arm 36 projects through a suitable opening 38 in the insulation base 16 beyond which it is provided with a finger piece 39 for operating 1t. To aid in the movement of the arm v36 a coiled tension spring 40 connects a lug 41 rising from thearm 36 on the forward side of its pivotal axis with a lug 42 rising from the bracket plate. 37 on the rear side of said pivotal axis. The action is such that when the arm 36 is swung beyond its medial position it will snap through to the limit of its movement in that direction in a familiar .manner. Said arm is limited in its'movement in either direction by its engagement with the base 16: at the ends of the slot .or openin 38 therein through which the arm extend I One of the pockets 30 is fill'ed or partially filled with mercury, When the block is in a position with the pocket containing the to operate said main switch.

tain the electric circuit through the mains mercury elevated abovev the pocket containing little or no mercury, the mercury tends to flow into the lower pocket through the channel 32 connecting said pockets. To per mit this flow there is a relative displacement of air in the two pockets and the air is exelled from the lower pocket andis drawn mto the upper pocket through the-respective porous wooden plugs 31 31 closing the ends of said pockets. The rapidity of this interchange provides the time element of the switch member.

The terminals of the auxiliary switch mem- 10,? and the other, namely the'pivot..pin 29,

by a wire 44, through the electro-magnet 14 to a contact 45 adjacent the contact 25. Said contact 45 isadapted to be engaged by the swinging contact member 23 of the main switch when the operating arm 12 thereof 'is-shifted to the position shown in Figure 4 The operation of the switch is as follows: The arm 12 of the main switch is shifted to the position shown in Figure 4. In this position of the parts the trigger 15' engages the U-bar 20 and locks the main swinging contact member '23 of the main switch with the contacts 25, 26 still bridged 'soa's to 'mainto the lamp closed, The arm 360i the auxiliary time member is shifted so as to elevate the aperture of the block 28 containing. the mercury to the position shown in Figure 10; that is to say, with the aperture containingthe mercury above the aperture without mercury. In making this shift of the block theicontact in, 35 engages the tines of the bifurcated fi er or insulation member 34 and not the tines of the bifurcated contactmem ber 33, as clearly shown in Figu although by reason of the contact of the two members 23and 45 the electro-ma at is in' circuit across'the mains through e auxiliary switch device, this circuit is interrupted because of the en agement of the contact member 35 with t e bifurcated insulation weight of the mercury in the upper aperture maintainsthis relation (as clearly apparent from an examination of Figure 10) until an interchange of mercury hasbeen made and said third contact being electro-magnet, and a time element auxiliary the mercury has flown to the lower chamber, whereupon the block 28 will be overbalanced to swing it and bring theparts into the position shown in Figures 8 and 11. Here the tines of the metal contact plate 33 will enga e the (pin 35 instead of the tines of the iurcate insulation member 34, thereby completing the circuit across the mains through the electro-magnet whichis momentarily energized to operate the trigger 15 and release the U-bar 20 of the main switch. Thereupon the spring -thrust member 22 throws the main switch bar 23 completely to disengage it, not only from the auxiliary contact member 45, but also from the main contact members 25 and 26, and thus opening'the apparent to those familiar'with the art.- By

the novel construction the ordinary snap switch is made use of with all the advantages it has of the board contacts and the nick make and break required in a device 0 the kind. The time element member merely 'blocks the full throw of the contact operating mechanism until the designed time has elapsed, when the same is released and the switch is opened in theordinary manner.

I claim as my invention: Y 1. A switch mechanism comprising a snap switch, an arm for operating the same, said snap switch comprising two fixed contacts and a spring actuated movable contact a trigger adapted to arrestthemovement of said movable contact member in an intermediate position while still bridging said fixed contacts, an electro-magnet for releasin said trigger, a third contact engaged by sai movable contact in said intermediate position, in circuit'with said switch in circuit between said third contact and'said electro-magnet adapted to close he circuit to said electromagnet at the end of a time interval.

2. In combination, a snap switch, comprising an operating arm, two fixed contacts, a movable spring-actuated contact adapted to bridge said fixed contacts, a trigger adapted to arrest said movable contact member in its .movement to open the circuit, an electromagnet, a third contact in circuit with said electro-magnet adapted to be engaged by said movable contact in its arrested position, and a time element auxiliary switch in circuit between said third contact and said electromagnet adapted to complete the circuit through said electro-magnet to energize the same and release said trigger.

3. A switch mechanism com rising a snap switch, said snap switch inclu ing two fixed contacts and a spring-actuated movable contact, a trigger adapted to arrest the movement of said movable contact in an intermediate position in its movement from closed to open position while still bridgin said fixed contacts, an electro-magnet for re easing said trigger, a third contact engaged by said movable contact in said intermediate position, said third contact being in circuit with said electro-magnet, and a time element automatic auxiliary switch associated with said electro-magnet adapted for momentarily closing said electro-magnet circuit at the end of a time interval.

4. In combination, a snap switch including two fixed contacts, and a movable springactuated contact adapted to bridge said fixed contacts, a trigger adapted to arrest said movable contact member in its movement from closed to open position while still bridging said fixed contacts, an electro-magnet, a third contact in circuit with said electro-magnet adapted to be engaged by said movab e contact in its arrested position, and a time element automatic auxiliary switch associated with said electro-magnet adapted momentarily to close said electro-magnet circuit at the end of a'time interval.

5. In combination with main circuit conductors and a load connected thereto, a snap switch adapted to close said circuit, a trigger adapted to arrest said switch in an intermediate position in its movement from closed to open position, an electro-magnet connected to one of said main conductors, a contact connected to said other main conductor adapted to be engaged by said snap switch in its arrested position, and an automatic time element switch in circuit with said contact and with said electro-magnet adapted momentarily to close said electro-magnet circuit at the end of a predetermined time interval.

6. In combination with electric main con- ,ductors, a snap switch connected across said conductors, a trigger adapted to arrest said switch in an intermediate position in its movement from closed to open position, an electro-magnet connected across said main conductors, a contact included in said electromagnet circuit adapted to be included in the switch circuit in its arrested position and an auxiliary time element switch included in said magnetic circuit adapted momentarily to close said electro-magnet circuit at the end of a predetermined time interval.

7. In combination with main electric conductors and a load included therein, a snap switch, an arm for o erating the same, said snap switch comprising two fixed contacts and a spring-actuated movable contact, a trigger adapted to arrest the movement of said movable contact member in an intermediate position while still bridging said fixed contacts, an electro-magnet in circuit between said main conductors, a third contact included in said electro-magnet circuit adapted to be engaged by said movable contact member in its arrested position, and an automatic time element auxiliary switch in said electromagnet circuit adapted momentarily to close said elcctro-magnetic circuit at the end of a predetermined time interval.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I afiix my signature this 18th day of August, A. D. 1926.

WARD G. WILLIAMS.

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