US2328855A - Mechanical gravity activated electrical switch - Google Patents
Mechanical gravity activated electrical switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2328855A US2328855A US439753A US43975342A US2328855A US 2328855 A US2328855 A US 2328855A US 439753 A US439753 A US 439753A US 43975342 A US43975342 A US 43975342A US 2328855 A US2328855 A US 2328855A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- switch
- spring
- housing
- contact face
- 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
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
- H01H35/02—Switches operated by change of position, inclination or orientation of the switch itself in relation to gravitational field
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
- F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
- F21V23/0414—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
Definitions
- My'zinvention relates-to'poirtable electric lamps such. las-.flash lights 'ina general Iand to-.switchesAI which. are rgravity)operated Kor activated -inwpar-y ticuiar.
- a further object of my switch is that itfcan ⁇ be used'withln. anygashlilamp to provide the means of rapid blinking for signaling in code. When positioned as illustrated in the drawing the light would be directed below the horizontal and when positioned in the reverse fashion, the lamp signals would be sent in an upward direction.
- Figure 1 is a sectional view of my switch in a lamp barrel;
- Figure 2 is a View of the interior of switch cover in perspective.
- Figure 3 is a plan view of the switch body viewed from inside.
- housing I engages the upper or cover part of housing 2, both of which are moldedof insulating material, cemented or sealed together after assembly.
- the movable contact 3 is xed to the flat spring conductor 6, the latter being secured to the conductor plate 9 by the screw II.
- a slot I cut in the straight wall of hole or pocket Ii] of member 2 serves as a side guide for spring 6 to insure alignment of movable contact 3 with stationary contact 4 to better withstand any side thrust of ball 5.
- the positive alignment of contact 3 above contact 4 and that of spring S with respect to slot 'I is insured in assembly by engaging small hole I1 in member l, with projecting pin I8 a part of member 2.
- the spring interposed as 'show-nis not essential ⁇ as ⁇ contact * may belmade directly between;v grounded:- framecap I4 and terminal plateiorlbetween'" aatspringginplace ofy the coiled spring I5-asof battery- I3-to1establish circuitcontact.l
- the majorfaxis of the lampbarrel IB is ftilted. Below ⁇ horizontal position approximately, ⁇ 20 degrees ball.5 rolls-forward pressing its weight f and force againstspringBclosingcontact 3 on Contact 4;,- assuming either there is a'conventional switch: inlthe 'circuit :and already, in 'clc-sedposition, on else ⁇ none, the Ylamp will light.
- the pocket I0 for the ball 5 is disposed in the housing offcentrically and near the peripheral wall thereof, while the spring 6 is anchored so as to extend diametrically clear across the housing.
- this feature is of considerable importance, since it provides a long leverage for the ball to operate the spring. This makes the device more sensitive and more reliably responsive to gravity operation.
- a portable switch for a iiashlight, or the like comprising a fiat annular housing having a side wall and end members, the end members having outer contact faces adapted for insertion into a circuit, means for insulating the contact faces from one another, one of the end members havlng an internal contact face in electrical comnunication with its outer contact face, a relaively small pocket member projecting from the second end member near the side Wall and toward said internal contact face, a cantilever spring contact extending diametrically across the housing intermediate the two end members and having one end anchored with respect t0 the second contact face and having a free end projecting over the pocket member so as to be normally spaced from but movable toward the internal contact face of the first end member, and a weight movable in the pOcket member for urging the free end of the cantilever spring contact upon the internal Contact face for closing the circuit when the housing is tilted in one direction and to release the spring contact for opening the Cl'Ci-iit when the tilting
- a switch for a flashlight or the like comprising a at annular housing having a side wall and end members, the end members having outer contact faces adapted for insertion into a circuit, means for insulating the contact faces from one another, one of the end members having an internal contact face in electrical communication with its outer contact face, a relatively small pocket member projecting from the second end member near the side wall and toward said internal contact face, a cantilever spring contact extending diametrically across the housing intermediate the two end members and having one end anchored with respect to the second contact face and having a free end projecting over the pocket member so as to be normally spaced from but movable toward the internal contact face of the iirst end member, and a weight movable in the pocket member for urging the free end of the cantilever spring contact upon the internal contact face for closing the circuit when the housing is tilted in one direction and to release the spring contact for opening the circuit when the tilting movement is reversed, the Wall of the pocket member being tapered to delay movement of the weight until a desired
- a portable switch for a ashlight or the like comprising a fiat annular housing having a side wall and end members, the end members having outer contact faces adapted for insertion into a circuit, means for insulating the contact faces from one another, one of the end members having an internal contact face in electrical communication with its outer contact face, a relatively small pocket member projecting from the second end member near the side Wall and toward said internal contact face, a cantilever spring contact extending diametrically across the housing intermediate the two end members, and having one end anchored with respect to the second contact face and having a free end projecting over the pocket member so as to be normally spaced from but movable toward the internal contact face of the first end member, and a weight movable in the pocket member for urging the end of the cantilever spring contact upon the internal contact face for closing the circuit when the housing is tilted in one direction and to release the spring contact for opening the circuit when the tilting movement is reversed, the pocket member having a slot in the wall thereof for receiving and guiding the free end of
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
Description
Sept. 7, 1943. R. T. STEPHENS 2,328,855
MECHANICAL GRAVITY ACTIVATED ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed April zo, 1942 Patented Sept. 7, 1943 MECHANICAL GRAVITY^ACTIVATED ELECTRICAL SWITCH.
Richard T. Stephens, SanFr'ancis'co,-Calif-. appiieatiennpritzo,1942, serial. No.. 439,753..
3 Claims;
My'zinvention relates-to'poirtable electric lamps such. las-.flash lights 'ina general Iand to-.switchesAI which. are rgravity)operated Kor activated -inwpar-y ticuiar. The primary object of thegpresentfinvention;iswthe.closingpfthe'circuit when the'lampg bulbis `tilted well belowftthe horizontalfplane and thex opening of .the circuit when'. the raised lamp;V
bulb isi still we1l belowthehoriZontal. plane.:
A second object `of my switch-isfhat it may be." selfi. contained` andthe 4devicegplaced .withinany lamp, shelltolbecome za 4secendarylimiting; control supplementing thefflamps -r manually .controlled switch.;
A further object 'foftmygswitch party ofY the 4same and constitutingthe sole switch-v ingdevicevefthe lamp.; l
Another object o-fnmyqswltch" is to iprovide safe f switching p fdev-ice': fully, inclcsedin'-4 a vapo-r and 'dustproof housing,= to .decrease -.the,ahazard .of L
exposed. contact; points thatmight; create danger ousfsparkingandl serious explosions.;
A further object of my switch is that itfcan` be used'withln. anygashlilamp to provide the means of rapid blinking for signaling in code. When positioned as illustrated in the drawing the light would be directed below the horizontal and when positioned in the reverse fashion, the lamp signals would be sent in an upward direction.
Other objects will suggest themselves or be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing; the latter illustrates one embodiment of the present invention and in which the views thereof are as follows:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of my switch in a lamp barrel; Figure 2 is a View of the interior of switch cover in perspective. Figure 3 is a plan view of the switch body viewed from inside.
Referring to the drawing the lower or body part of housing I, engages the upper or cover part of housing 2, both of which are moldedof insulating material, cemented or sealed together after assembly. The movable contact 3, is xed to the flat spring conductor 6, the latter being secured to the conductor plate 9 by the screw II. A slot I cut in the straight wall of hole or pocket Ii] of member 2, serves as a side guide for spring 6 to insure alignment of movable contact 3 with stationary contact 4 to better withstand any side thrust of ball 5. The positive alignment of contact 3 above contact 4 and that of spring S with respect to slot 'I is insured in assembly by engaging small hole I1 in member l, with projecting pin I8 a part of member 2. A suitable conductor strip 8 attached to or a continuation of contact that it may. be incorporated within: the `lampi as yarr-integral1 4 is exposed onfthe outside surface ofhousing to form :the-terminal :which will engagethe'base :Y
The spring interposed as 'show-nis not essential `as` contact *may belmade directly between;v grounded:- framecap I4 and terminal plateiorlbetween'" aatspringginplace ofy the coiled spring I5-asof battery- I3-to1establish circuitcontact.l
space dictates.
Referring tolFigure'-f1f,-a feature tof my switchls -the,inclined wallioftheannulan recess `I2 which'v forms fthefenclosure'or raceway for ball 5.y If
for examplethe majorfaxis of the lampbarrel IB is ftilted. below` horizontal position approximately,` 20 degrees ball.5 rolls-forward pressing its weight f and force againstspringBclosingcontact 3 on Contact 4;,- assuming either there is a'conventional switch: inlthe 'circuit :and already, in 'clc-sedposition, on else\none, the Ylamp will light. When the: lamp barrel IG- is` again raised and-while-its major-axis yis yeti approxi-mately v20 degrees below truefhorizontahthat portion of the raceway surface-,I2 whichiis engaged with ballv 5 will.l have:r reachedahorizontal position,- if the barrel Illsy raisedany-higher :the raceway vsurface engaging I, thefballv willlber-slantingbelow horizontal and the:v
It should be noted particularly that the pocket I0 for the ball 5 is disposed in the housing offcentrically and near the peripheral wall thereof, while the spring 6 is anchored so as to extend diametrically clear across the housing. In view of the small dimensions required for accommodation of the entire switch in a conventional flashlight, this feature is of considerable importance, since it provides a long leverage for the ball to operate the spring. This makes the device more sensitive and more reliably responsive to gravity operation.
From the foregoing description in conjunction with the drawing it will be apparent4 that my switch can be advantageously used within portable lamps serving a very useful purpose during blackouts; similar wartime precautionary restrictions of light will suggest themselves. For example, by the simple expedient of turning the housing of my switch around, so that the stationary contact, no-W engages the end cap, or the interposed spring, of the lamp barrel it can readily be seen that the switch now will function so as to limit light in an upward direction only and in an arc of 180 degrees or less.
While I have described but one embodiment of my switch and but cne'application of its use,
it is to be understood that my drawing is to aid my description, and likewise words that I have used in description of my switch, are merely descriptive in scope, rather than of limitation.
I found it desirable to illustrate my switch greatly enlarged in order to better show details of it in its present form; the model which I made being substantially as illustrated having a case 3/8 by 1" overall, outside, measurements.
What I claim is:
1. A portable switch for a iiashlight, or the like, comprising a fiat annular housing having a side wall and end members, the end members having outer contact faces adapted for insertion into a circuit, means for insulating the contact faces from one another, one of the end members havlng an internal contact face in electrical comnunication with its outer contact face, a relaively small pocket member projecting from the second end member near the side Wall and toward said internal contact face, a cantilever spring contact extending diametrically across the housing intermediate the two end members and having one end anchored with respect t0 the second contact face and having a free end projecting over the pocket member so as to be normally spaced from but movable toward the internal contact face of the first end member, and a weight movable in the pOcket member for urging the free end of the cantilever spring contact upon the internal Contact face for closing the circuit when the housing is tilted in one direction and to release the spring contact for opening the Cl'Ci-iit when the tilting movement is reversed.
2. A switch for a flashlight or the like, comprising a at annular housing having a side wall and end members, the end members having outer contact faces adapted for insertion into a circuit, means for insulating the contact faces from one another, one of the end members having an internal contact face in electrical communication with its outer contact face, a relatively small pocket member projecting from the second end member near the side wall and toward said internal contact face, a cantilever spring contact extending diametrically across the housing intermediate the two end members and having one end anchored with respect to the second contact face and having a free end projecting over the pocket member so as to be normally spaced from but movable toward the internal contact face of the iirst end member, and a weight movable in the pocket member for urging the free end of the cantilever spring contact upon the internal contact face for closing the circuit when the housing is tilted in one direction and to release the spring contact for opening the circuit when the tilting movement is reversed, the Wall of the pocket member being tapered to delay movement of the weight until a desired tilting angle has been reached.
3. A portable switch for a ashlight or the like, comprising a fiat annular housing having a side wall and end members, the end members having outer contact faces adapted for insertion into a circuit, means for insulating the contact faces from one another, one of the end members having an internal contact face in electrical communication with its outer contact face, a relatively small pocket member projecting from the second end member near the side Wall and toward said internal contact face, a cantilever spring contact extending diametrically across the housing intermediate the two end members, and having one end anchored with respect to the second contact face and having a free end projecting over the pocket member so as to be normally spaced from but movable toward the internal contact face of the first end member, and a weight movable in the pocket member for urging the end of the cantilever spring contact upon the internal contact face for closing the circuit when the housing is tilted in one direction and to release the spring contact for opening the circuit when the tilting movement is reversed, the pocket member having a slot in the wall thereof for receiving and guiding the free end of the cantilever spring.
RICHARD T. STEPHENS.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US439753A US2328855A (en) | 1942-04-20 | 1942-04-20 | Mechanical gravity activated electrical switch |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US439753A US2328855A (en) | 1942-04-20 | 1942-04-20 | Mechanical gravity activated electrical switch |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US2328855A true US2328855A (en) | 1943-09-07 |
Family
ID=23745999
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US439753A Expired - Lifetime US2328855A (en) | 1942-04-20 | 1942-04-20 | Mechanical gravity activated electrical switch |
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Country | Link |
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US (1) | US2328855A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2487433A (en) * | 1946-05-06 | 1949-11-08 | Allen J Gardenhour | Ball contactor switch |
US2513665A (en) * | 1947-05-08 | 1950-07-04 | Norman Nelson Corp | Camera flash synchronizer having inertia switch |
NL2010170C2 (en) * | 2012-06-22 | 2013-12-24 | Steinar Holding B V | LANTERN WITH SECURITY AGAINST SHINES IN AN UNWANTED DIRECTION. |
-
1942
- 1942-04-20 US US439753A patent/US2328855A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2487433A (en) * | 1946-05-06 | 1949-11-08 | Allen J Gardenhour | Ball contactor switch |
US2513665A (en) * | 1947-05-08 | 1950-07-04 | Norman Nelson Corp | Camera flash synchronizer having inertia switch |
NL2010170C2 (en) * | 2012-06-22 | 2013-12-24 | Steinar Holding B V | LANTERN WITH SECURITY AGAINST SHINES IN AN UNWANTED DIRECTION. |
WO2013191540A1 (en) * | 2012-06-22 | 2013-12-27 | Steinar Holding B.V. | Lamp with protection against shining in an undesired direction |
US9458997B2 (en) | 2012-06-22 | 2016-10-04 | Steinar Holding B.V. | Lamp with protection against shining in an undesired direction |
US9657929B2 (en) | 2012-06-22 | 2017-05-23 | Steinar Holding B.V. | Lamp with protection against shining in an undesired direction |
AU2013277898B2 (en) * | 2012-06-22 | 2017-07-20 | Bird Control Group B.V. | Lamp with protection against shining in an undesired direction |
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