US2542132A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1951 w. s. GoERTzEN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 15, 1947 INVENTOB WfLLJAM. GoERrz. N BY @/M@ ATToRNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,542,132 `ELEo'rinio SWITCH William S. Goertzen, Newton, Kans.

Application April 15, 1947, Serial No. 741,451

1 Claim.

l My invention relates to an electric switch and has for its principal object to break an electric circuit as rocked from its circuit closing position,

' as a safety result when applied to a steam boiler or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch that will break the circuit by the vertical position of a structure containing the switch and likewise close the circuit when the structure is abnormally inclined for the result of illumination.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a switch for an electric circuit that will function under gravity control to close the circuit or break the same. y

A still further object of my invention is to provide a switch whose elements are of rigid material to make and break an electric circuit whereby the negative or positive side of the circuit has a pendently carried element that will swing to and from engagement with the other pole as controlled by gravity.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like characters will apply to like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawings;

Fig. l represents the switch positioned in a fishing bob, partly in section.

Fig. -2 is an enlarged View of the switch showing its circuit closing position, parts removed for convenience of illustration. l l

Fig. 3 illustrates one-position of the switch mechanism to break the circuit.

Fig. 4 represents theposition of the switch to break the circuit when the device is inverted.

Fig. 5 shows the adaption of the switch as a safety control.

The invention herein disclosed consists of two applications of a switch, one of which consists of a tubular body I functioning as a housing. Said housing has a lining 2 of insulation material that extends from the upper end of the housing downward to a spaced distance from the lower end thereof, the terminal end of the lining forming a shoulder and a fulcrum point as at A on which a cylindrical elongated bob 3 will rock as carried by links 4 and 5, the links coacting with the bob for the other side of the circuit, the major length of the bob being adjacent the links so that the minor portion will be rocked from engagement with the shell as the housing reaches a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3. Link 5 is integrally joined to a helical spring 6 to seat on a head 'I of insulation material (the spring purpose later described). Said link 4 is rockably connected to the upper end of the said bob by ball and socket engagement by which means the bob is free to rock to and from engagementwith the shell of the container, and furthermore the said links being elongated is means for collapsation thereof when the housing is inverted as shown in Fig. `4, when in which case the circuit is broken when the body of the bob rests upon the insulated lining.

TheV said housing I has a head I' threadedly engaging on its lower end thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while the upper end 'is externally threaded a short distance downward to engage with the internal threads at the lower end of a tube 8, said tube functioning as a container for a battery 9 that seats on the upper extremity of the helical spring 6 which is the connection for one end of the battery. The other end of the battery is in connection with the stem of a lamp I 0, the stem threadedly engaging in a metallic socket I I that fits snugly in the upper end of the battery tube. The upper end of the tube has a transparent disc I2 suitably secured therein fluid tight as at B, and against which the upper end of the lamp socket will engage. 1

Integrally joined to the upper end of the bat tery tube 8 is an annular iiange I3 outwardly extending to seat on anvannular gasket I4 and being bound thereto by a collar I5 that is internally threaded to engage with the threaded portion of the tube adjacent last said flange. The said flange I3 has a vV-shaped bridge I6 diametrically crossing the same and integrally joined thereto, the bridge being apertured at its apex thereof through which a fish line I'I will extend, the line being secured at a predetermined point therealong to the bridge apex to accommodate for the depth of a hook I8 as secured to the downwardly extending free end of the line. The tubular battery container 8 together with the switch container are insertible in a bore I9 axially positioned in a iish line float 2l] as shown in Fig. 1, and being secured therein by snug engagement of the said collar I5 in its enlarged portion of the bore I9, and being so arranged as above described, the containers are removable from the bore of the tubular body of the neat 20. Said float is elongated and formed so that it will retain itself in a vertical position when placed in a body of water, in which case, the circuit is broken, however when a fish pulls the line by a bite on the hook, the float will rock from a vertical position to close a circuit for the lamp. An upper portion of the fioat and including the lamp is exposed above the water and discernible when the lamp is illuminated, whereby when the fish is caught or when the same is biting on the line Will actuate the lamp to notify the fisherman, it being understood that the float of this character may be used at night or partially darkened days.

In Fig. 5 is shown the installation of a metallic bob 2| positioned within a spherical hollow float 22 that has an arm 23 radially extending and pivotedly connected as at C to another arm 24, the latter being joined, for example, to the wall oi a steam boier, its water column, or the .like (the boiler or column not being shown in the drawings). In either event, the spherical bodyvwill function as a float, the rocking of which is controlled by the rise and fall of Water contained in the boiler, the purpose of which being to make or break an electric circuit as a safety device to extinguish the burning of gaseous fuel used as a boiling means for the water contained in the boiler. The circuit is broken when the water reaches the low danger level, at which point, the spherical float will take itsposition as shown by dotted linesD inFig. 5, and in which position, the .bob by gravity actuation'automatically moves from contact with the shell of the float thus breaking `the circuit and permitting the closing of a gaseous fuel valve through the medium of a springthat is released at the time of breaking the 'electric circuit. It will be understood that the said valve is providedwith an electric motor that over ,powers the spring vtension when the 'current is on. 'The valve, its motor, a gas burner, and the boiler are of conventional types and well known to such line of service, all of which have been omitted from the drawings, but the electric .circuit control for such service may be arranged ias follows:

',The'link 25 isconnected to a rigidextension 26 that Ais fixed in any suitable manner to said iloat and its arm 23, said extension being insulated by Va `tubei2'! of insulation material, While the extension is connected to Aan electric feed line 28 as'a source `of electric Vpower and being one side of the circuit. The float through its connection with the boiler or columnconstitutes the other side of the circuit, therefore the said elongated bob is themedium or connecting'link Ato close the circuit when it moves in contact with the shell of the iioat as Vshown by whole lines inFig. 5, and by reason of a low water danger line the said float will recede downwardly as above described, whereby the electric circuit is broken, killingthe motor so that the spring tensioned valve thereof is (free to out off the fuel supply to avoid boiler explosion.

While I have shown a specific form for the switch bob and its containers, I do not wish to be restricted to such alone as the same may be varied to meet conditions required for a perfect performance of the principle herein set forth, and the switch as gravity actuated may be applied to other purposes to restrict against emergencies or to supply a desired effect by making or breaking an electric circuit for producing an essentialresult, `and such other modifications may be made as lie with thescope of the appended claim.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.In an electric switch comprising an elongated tubular` housing vertically positioned and being externally threaded on its lower end, a flanged head threadedly engaging said lower end, a circular head of insulation material secured on the upper end ,of the housing to close said end there- Of, a lining ci insulationmaterial positionedin the housing', saidlining extendingfrom the .insulation head and terminating a'spaced `distance from the Iianged head of the housing, a U-shaped link `structure ,extending inwardlyrfrorn kthe insulation head, a link rockablyconnected `totirst said link structure, an `elongated metallic bob and rockable connecting means iforl oneend of said bob to'thesecond saidlink, vthe.otherendof said `bob serving asa switch when the'samecontacts the housing between the ,flanged `head .and adjacent end of the .lining should thefhousing be rocked a predetermined anglefrom a :vertical lineand when rockedto'zagreater angle, the fbob lies on the insulating lining .ast'afsafety `means to break a circuit.

WILLIAMS. .GOERTZEN ...REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecerd inxthe lile ofvthis patent:

UNITED 'STATES VI?A'I'FJ\TTS

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