US2961519A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Nov- 22, 1 w. SADOWSKY ETAL 2,961,519

ELECTRIC SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1958 FIG-8 INVENTOQS WILSON SADOWSKV CHARLES L. BURNS D. 5mm

FIGJ

AGENT Nov. 22, 1960 w. SADOWSKY ETAL 2,961,519

I ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGJI INVENTORS WILSON SADOWSKY CHARLES L.BURNS B) W M AGEN United States Patent ELECTRIC SWITCH Wilson Sadowsky, Rochester, Ind., and Charles L. Burns, Lancaster, Ohio, assignors to Essex Wire Corporation Filed Sept. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 763,118

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to electric switches of the type generally used to control the electric systems of window and seat regulators in automotive vehicles.

One object of the present invention is to provide an electric switch for an automotive window regulator systern and the like which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture yet is both durable and dependable in use.

Another object is to provide an electric switch of small size and low cost particularly adapted for reversing the current flow through an electrical device.

A further object is to provide an improved and simplified means for pivotally supporting the operating lever of an electric switch.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a switch constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the switch as seen from the top of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the switch as seen from the bottom of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views, respectively, taken substantially on the lines 55 and 66 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure l with the switch being shown in a diiferent position of operation, a clip retainer being removed and a portion of the case being broken away;

Figures 8, 9, and 10 are perspective views, respectively, of a clip retainer and two fixed contact members employed in the switch; and

Figure 11 is a schematic wiring diagram of a control system for a series DC. motor employing the switch.

Referring to the drawings, an electric switch is illustrated as comprising a generally rectangular case 20 of insulating material such as a molded thermosetting resin and having a bottom wall 22, parallel side walls 24 and end Walls 26 forming a generally rectangular recess. A centrally located shallow channel 28 extends transversely across the inner side of bottom Wall 22. Extending transversely across the outer side of bottom wall 22 are three parallel channels 30, the central channel being disposed opposite channel 28. The upper edges of side walls 24 are provided with aligned T-shaped slots 32 centrally located between the end walls 26. Each slot 32 has a relatively wide and shallow portion 34 and a narrow portion 36 with a cylindrically-shaped bottom 38 providing a cylindrical bearing surface. Disposed upon the outer side of each side wall 24 immediately below the bottom of slot 32 is a lug 40 having an inclined top surface 42. The outer sides of end walls 26 may be provided with vertical recesses 43 enlarged at the lower ends thereof for securing a cover (not shown) to the switch.

At opposite ends of the bottom wall 22 are mounted stationary contact members 44 and 46 which may be stamped from sheet metal into the forms illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, respectively. Contact member 44 includes a flat base portion 48 having a threaded aperture 50 for receiving screw 52 which extends through bottom Wall 22 and a terminal 54 positioned in a channel 30. Extending at right angles from base portion 48 is a web portion 56 having a contact element 58 bent perpendicularly therefrom to lie in parallel spaced relation with the bottom wall 22 of the case 20. A second contact element 60 is bent laterally from the base portion 48 to extend generally parallel with a side wall 24. Contact member 46 which is similar to contact member 44 but in a reversed sense comprises a base portion 62, a web portion 64 with a contact element 66, and a second contact element 68. Contact member 46 also may be secured to the case 20 by a screw 52 extending through a terminal 54 and the bottom wall 22 and received in a threaded aperture 70 of base portion 62.

Two U-shaped pivot brackets 72 formed of sheet metal each have a flat bottom portion 74 which is secured in channel 28 of the bottom wall 22 by a rivet 76 which also secures a terminal 54 in the central channel 30. Each bracket 72 is provided with a pair of upstanding parallel arms 78 having notches 80 to receive the laterally projecting ears 82 of movable contact members 84 and 86 also formed from sheet metal. Contact member 84 has a central V-shaped bend 88 provided at either end with contact arms 90 which carry contacts 92 and 93, respectively, adapted to cooperate with stationary contact elements 58 and 66. Contact member 86 also has a central V-shaped bend 88 provided at either end with contact arms 90 which carry contacts 94 and 95, respectively, adapted to cooperate with stationary contact elements 60 and 68.

Positioned over contact members 84 and 86 is an operating lever 96 which is preferably molded of a suitable plastic insulating material. Cylindrical trunnions 98 extend laterally from lever 96 and are seated in slots 32 of the case side walls 24. The trunnions 98 are held Within narrow portions 36 of slots 32 by clip retainers 100 which are made of thin resilient or spring metal. As best seen in Figure 8, clip retainers 100 are of substantially U-shape each having an intermediate portion 102 with laterally extending end portions 104 and 106. The end portion 106 is comprised of a pair of spaced legs 108 positioned on either side of a trunnion 98 while end portion 104 has an opening 110 to receive a lug 40. The intermediate portions 102 positioned in portions 34 of slots 32 close slot portions 36 to retain lever 96 in place.

The operating lever 96 is provided with two substan tially cylindrical bores 112 each of which receives a plunger 114 having a spherical end 115 and a spring 116 which biases plunger 114 into engagement with its respective movable contact member 84 or 86. It will be apparent that the force of springs 116 holds plungers 114 centrally located in the V-shaped bends 88 of contact members 84 and 86 such that handle 96 and contacts 84 and 86 are maintained in the normal neutral positions shown in Figure 5. When the operating lever 96 is rocked to the position shown in Figure 7, plungers 114 are moved along contact members 84 and 86 and through cam action rotate contact members 84 and 86 to cause contact 92 to engage contact element 58 and contact 95 to engage contact element 68. Similarly, contact 93 engages contact element 66 and contact 94 engages contact element 60 when operating lever 96 is rotated to the opposite side of its neutral position.

The switch may be easily assembled by first attaching pivot brackets 72 and stationary contact members 44 and 46 together with their respective terminals 54 to the case 20. After the movable contact members 84 and 86 are placed upon their respective pivot brackets, plungers 114 and springs 116 are inserted in bores 112 of operating lever 96 and the operating lever 96 is positioned in the case 20 with the trunnions 98 resting in slots 32. To complete assembly of the switch, each clip retainer 100 is positioned upon the top edge of a side wall 24 such that end portion 104 will engage the outer side of side wall 24 and legs 108 will engage the inner side of side wall 24 upon either side of its associated trunnion 98. Then by pushing the clip retainers downward toward the bottom wall 22 of the case 20, the end portions 104 of clipst) will snap over lugs 40 after being initially deflected outward by inclined surfaces 42. It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides an extremely simple, durable, and inexpensive means for maintaining an operating lever secured to a switch casing and that the assembly of the operating lever and its attaching means may be performed quickly and inexpensively.

In Figure 11, the switch is shown connected to control an electric motor such as might be used to operate a window or seat of an automotive vehicle. The series winding 120 of areversible DC. motor 122 is connected by leads 124 and 126, respectively, to movable contact members 84 and 86. Stationary contact member 46 is connected by lead 128 to armature 130 of motor 122 and stationary contact member 44 is connected by lead 132 to a battery 134 which is connected in series with armature 130 by lead 136. In the neutral position of the switch, movable contact members 84 and 86 are disengaged from stationary contact members 44 and 46 and no current can flow in either the field 120 or the armature 130 of motor 122. When operating lever 96 is moved to the position shown in Figure 7, the field 120'and the armature 130 will be connected in series in a circuit consisting of contact element 68, contact 95, contact member 86, field'12i), contact member 34, contact 92, contact element 58, and battery 134. If the operating lever 96 is moved to the opposite side of its neutral position, the field 120 and the armature 130 also will be connected in series in a similar manner except that the direction of current flow through the field will be reversed and the motor will rotate in the opposite direction.

It will be seen that the switch of this invention is simpler in construction than'the conventional double-pole, double-throw switch required to reverse current fiow through an electrical device. In the ordinary reversing switch, the fixed contacts must be connected together by two connecting links which cross over each other. Such links are elim'inatedin the switch described above by providing two stationary contact members each having two contact elements positioned as described such that each of two cooperating movable contact members will simultaneously engage a contact element of different stationary contact members.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferred embodiment and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric switch, the combination of: a wall having a recess in one edge thereof; said wall having a catch portion thereon; a contact operating member having a laterally projecting trunnion positioned in said recess; a retainer clip for holding said trunnion in said recess; said clip comprising a substantially U-shaped member of resilient material having an intermediate portion and two end portions; said intermediate portion being positioned over the opening in the said edge of the wall formed by said recess; one of said end portions being positioned on the side of said wall having said catch portion and having fastening means cooperating with said catch portion; the other of said end portions being positioned on the other side of said wall.

2. An electric switch comprising a case having two aligned slots in the wall thereof; a projecting lug positioned on the outer side of saidwall adjacent each slot; a contact operating lever having laterally extending trunnions positioned in said slots; two substantially U-shaped retainer clips of resilient material positioned to hold said trunnions in said slots; each retainer clip comprising an intermediate portion and two laterally extending end portions; said intermediate portion being positioned over the opening in the wall formed by a slot; one of said end por tions being positioned on the inner side of the wall and having a pair of legs straddling one of the trunnions; the other of said end portions being positioned on the outer side of said wall and having an opening adapted to receive one of said lugs.

3. An electric switch comprising a case having a bottom wall, end walls, and parallel side walls; each side wall having a substantially T-shaped slot comprising a wide and shallow portion in the upper edge of the side wall and a narrow portion extending toward said bottom wall; a projecting lug having an inclined top surface disposed upon theouter side of each side wall immediately below the bottom of one of said slots; two substantially U- shaped retainer clips each having an intermediate portion positioned in one of said wide slot portions and having two laterally projecting end portions resiliently engaging opposite sides of a side wall; one of said end portions being positioned on the inner side of a side wall and having a pair of'legs straddling one of said trunnions; the other of said end portions being positioned on the outer side of a side wall and having a window in which one of said lugs projects.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,248,362 Krieger July 8, 1941 2,368,679 Popp Feb. 6, 1945 2,428,848 Koenig Oct. 14, 1947 2,761,937 Ericson Sept. 4, 1956 2,765,382 Kelto Oct. 2, 1956

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