US3555218A

US3555218A - Stop motion devices

Info

Publication number: US3555218A
Application number: US829871A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cecil S Adams; James S Russell
Original assignee: Adams Inc
Current assignee: Adams Inc
Priority date: 1969-06-03
Filing date: 1969-06-03
Publication date: 1971-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-12
Also published as: GB1254678A; BE748789A; CH521917A; FR2043078A5; ES379564A1; NL144342B; NL7007592A; JPS4839378B1; DE2026563A1

Abstract

There is disclosed an improved stop motion switch for use as and with a drop wire assembly for textile machines. The switch includes a shaft member journaled in a switch housing and carrying a drop wire for engaging a strand from a textile machine. The switch housing, when installed on a machine, is supported on an insulative member carrying bus bars. The switch is provided with contacts for effecting a short circuit between the bus bars and through the shaft in the event that the strand breaks or becomes excessively slack. Contacts are also provided to effect a second circuit between the bus bars in response to a force exerted on the drop wire by the strand in a direction away from the insulative member.

Description

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Cecil S. Adams;

James S. Russell, Greenville, S.C.

STOP MOTION DEVICES 20 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 200/61.18,

Int. Cl B65h 25/14 Field oI'Search ZOO/61.13, 61.18; 57/8l(Inquired) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1969 Hope FOREIGN PATENTS 963,l76 7/1964 GreatBritain 57/81 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-M. Ginsburg Attorney-Kemon, Palmer, Stewart and Estabrook ABSTRACT: There is disclosed an improved stop motion switch for use as and with a drop wire assembly for textile machines. The switch includes a shaft member journaled in a switch housing and carrying a drop wire for engaging a strand from a textile machine. The switch housing, when installed on a machine, is supported on an insulative member carrying bus bars. The switch is provided with contacts for effecting a short circuit between the bus bars and through the shaft in the event that the strand breaks or becomes excessively slack. Contacts are also provided to effect a second circuit between the bus bars in response to a force exerted on the drop wire by the strand in a direction away from the insulative member.

PATENTED JAN 1 2 I97! SHEET 1 OF 3 .Fl GI PRIOR ART INVENTORS CECIL s. ADAMS JAMES s. RUSSELL BY W4wukwk KW ATTORNEYS PATENTED m1 2:97! 3; 555; 2 1- 8 sum 2 OF 3 I 34a 34b b J INVENTORS CECIL s. ADAMS v JAMES s. RUSSELL ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJANIZIQYI 3555.218

' v sum '3 nrs STOP MOTION DEVICES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a switching device to be used as part of a drop wire assembly for textile machines, and functions to automatically stop the machine: in the event of a breaking of a textile strand being operated on by the machine; in the event of an excessive amount of slack in the textile strand; and in the event that the strand exerts a force upon a detecting element of the stop motion switch by accumulating thereon due to inherent characteristics of the strand, due to environmental conditions in the textile plant, and the like.

THE PRIOR'ART The best known prior art is represented by a US. Pat. No. 2,754,653 to S. J. Adams dated Jul. 17, 1956 for stop motion devices. Having reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings herein, and as taught by the prior art, a drop wire assembly for textile machines includes an elongated bar of insulating material suitably secured to a frame 12 of the textile machines. The bar I0 supports a pair of conductors or bus bars l4, 16 in longitudinally extending and spaced apart grooves. The conductors l4 and 16 are connected in a known stop circuit including a source of current 18 and an electromagnet 20 which operates any suitable means to effect stopping of the textile machine.

A plurality of textile strand detecting switches 22 are supported on the elongated bar 10, and each switch is provided with switch contacts in connection with the

bus bars

14 and 16. The switch contacts are normally open and accordingly the switching magnet is normally ineffective for the purpose of stopping the textile machine. Eachof the switches 22 is provided with a pivot shaft 24 having a portion extending from the switch housing along an axis at right angles to the elongated bar 10. A drop wire 26 is secured to the shaft 24 on the external portion thereof which drop wire normally engages a strand from the textile machine. The strand issues from a trumpet 28 and is moved through driven draft rolls 30 to be wound on a bobbin by a suitable device such as a rotating flyer. The drop wires shown in FIG. 1 are provided with eyelets 32 for engaging the strand between the draft rolls and the rotating flyer. In the event that the strand breaks or becomes excessively slack, the drop wire and the shaft are freed to pivot on the axis of the shaft, and in so pivoting they effect an engagement of the contacts in a switch 22 to thereby energize the electromagnet'20 and stop the machine.

THE PROBLEM operation for a number of years. During that period serious problems have occurred due to the nature of textile strands of both natural and synthetic fibers and/or because of the environmental conditions under which the switches operate. Specifically a strand is made up of a large number of loose fibers which for various reasons can form a fiber bundle or tag on the drop wire. As one example, static electricity in a textile plant affects the fibers such that some of them spring out such that fibers can wrap themselves around or otherwise build up a tag on that portion of the dropwire that is in engagement with the strand. The tag is an obstacle to the movement of the strand; and as the strand is taken up, other fibers accumulate on the tag to thereby further impede the movement of the strand. For illustrative purposes, the portion of the drop wire for engaging the strand herein is shown as the eyelet 32. Obviously, other devices can be used for this purpose and they also are subject to the same accumulation.

The accumulated fibers on the strand engaging portion of the drop wire create a resistance to movement of the strand,

which resistance the strand must overcome through exerting .1

to the danger of plant personnel, i.e., a pivot shaft thrown by a flyer rotating at about 1,200 r.p.m. can be a dangerous and potentially lethal projectile. There are, of course, intermediate degrees of damage. Too, the above-referred-to problem is caused by other factors, e.g., a rough spot on the strand engaging portion of the drop wire can and does cause the accumulation thereon of fibers as does a lump of fibers in the strand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a new and novel stop motion switch for use with a drop wire assembly, which switch is effective either upon a breakage of atextile strand, an excessive slackness in the strand, or an accumulation of the strand upon the drop wire to stop the textile machine.

It is another object of this invention to provide a switch for use with a drop wire assembly for a textile machine having contacts actuated by a switch operator and responsive to pivotal motion around either of two axes taken at right angles to each other for signalling a malfunction in the feeding of a textile strand.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and novel drop wire assembly for textile machines capable of detecting malfunctions in the feeding of a textile strand and being provided with at least two sets of contacts, each set of contacts being responsive to pivotal motion around an in dividual axis, there being a minimum of two axes at right angles to each other.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in front elevation showinga fragmentary part of a textile machine provided with stop motion devices;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are front perspective views of the details of a self-contained switch structure in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view, with modifications, in front sectional elevation of a portion of the switch structure shown in FIG. 2a;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are partial sectional views in side elevation of an improved pivot shaft usable with the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5a is a perspective view in front elevation of the details of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5b is a sectional view on the line 5b'-5b of FIG. 5a and shows a portion of a mounting assembly for pivotally attaching a switch housing to the elongated bar;

FIG. 6a is a perspective view in rear elevation of a switch housing for the second, third and fourth embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 6b and 6c are top elevational views of the second embodiment of the invention shown mounted on the elongated bar and showing a resilient contact supported externally of the switch;

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate the details of a third embodiment of the invention in perspective and sectional views; and

FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate the details of a fourth embodiment of the invention in perspective and sectional .views.

DESCRIPTION OF FIRST EMBODIMENT Having reference to FIGS. 2a through 412 of the drawings an improved and self-contained stop motion switch for use with a drop wire assembly on a textile machine is shown relative to the elongated bar 10 of insulating material having the conductors l4 and 16 mounted therein. The improved switch includes a switch housing 34 comprising a base or rear section 34a and an attachable top or front section 34b, made out of a suitable insulating material such as molded plastic. The switch housing is provided with holes 36 for receiving suitable securing means such as screws for mounting on the bar 10. In addition, holes 38 are provided in the

sections

34a and 34b for receiving screws for securing the two sections together to thereby form a unitary casing.

A contact 40 having a generally triangular shaped conductive portion 41 and having a rearwardly extending conductive portion 42 is supported in a fixed position by a molded contact seating 44 in the rear section 34a of the switch housing. The

conductive portion 42 extends through a slot 45 (FIG. 3) in a backwall 46 of the switch housing to contact the bus bar 16, thereby placing the contact at the potential of the bus bar.

A second, vertically extending contact 48 is positioned in a second molded contact seating 50 which seating is located in the section 340 of the switch housing and rearwardly and centrally of the triangular conductive section 41 of the contact 40. The second contact is provided with a forwardly extending conductive surface 52 normally extending into a slot 54 in the section 41 of the contact 40. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 3, the

normal position of the contact 48 is such that it is supported by the contact seat 50 so that the conductive surface 52 does not engage the triangular portion of the contact 40. A spacer 55 of insulative material may be supported on the contact 40 and having a portion located between the

contacts

40 and 48 to insure the electrically normal separation of the two contacts.

The contact 48 is provided with a finger 56 on its upper end, which finger extends vertically through a hole 58 in a contact 60. The contact 60 is preferably made out of a resilient or elastic conductive material. The contact 60 is supported in the rear section 34a of the switch housing near a top wall 62 thereof such that the contact may be pivoted within the housing. As shown in FIG. 2a, the contact 60 is cantilevered from a ledge 64 located on one side of the section 34a, and is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 65. A variation of this mounting is shown in FIG. 3 where the contact is shown supported by a conductive pin 66 carried in and extending through the rear wall 46 of the section 344. In each type of mounting the arm 65 or the pin 66 extend into contact with the bus bar M such that the

contacts

60 and 48 are at the electric potential of the bus bar 14. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 3 a coil spring 68 is interposed between the top wall 62 of the section 34a of the switch housing and a top surface of the contact 60 so as to encompass the finger 56 of the contact 48 to thereby hold the contact 48 within its seating 56 The vertically extending contact 48 is provided with a hole 70 to provide a bearing surface for an axially and rearwardly extending cylindrical portion 72 of a shaft 74. The shaft is preferably of conductive material and is in electrical contact with the contact 48 through the bearing surface such that the shaft is at the potential of the bus bar or conductor 14.

The shaft is journaled in a front wall 76 of the top section 34b of the switch housing such that the shaft is pivotal about its axis which axis extends generally at a right angle to the elongated bar 10. The shaft is provided with a pivotal contact 78 within the housing 34 which contact is normally positioned to be adjacent a top edge 80 of the contact 40 such that pivotal motion of the contact in either direction around the axis of the shaft 74 will bring an edge of a contact surface 79 of the contact 78 into engagement with the top edge 80 of the contact 40.

The shaft 74 is provided with a drop wire portion 82 extending axially from the top or front section 34b of the housing. The extension mounts the usual drop wire 26 which in turn may have the usual textile strand engaging eyelet supported on its uppermost end. The drop wire may be secured to the shaft extension by suitable means such as a set screw.

In operation, the stop motion switch of the present invention as described above functions in much the same manner as the devices of the prior art as exemplified in US. Pat. No. 2,754,653 for the purpose of detecting a break in or excessive slackness in a textile strand. The strand is normally engaged by the eyelet 32, or a similar device leans on the strand, to thus normally restrain the shaft 74 and its contact 78 from pivoting about the axis of the shaft. In the event of a breakage of the strand, the shaft and contact pivot until the contact 78 through the edge of its surface 79 engages the edge 80 of the contact 40 to thereby CQ Pletea circuit from the bus bar 14, through the contacts 6t}, 43, 78 and 40 to. the bus bar 16. This circuit is effective to energize the stop circuit to shut down the textile machine. 1

The improved switch functions to complete a second circuit between the bus bars to energize the stop'circuit in the event that there is sufficient fiber accumulation on the eyelet 32 and drop wire 26 to cause the strand to exert a force in the forward direction, i.e., outwardly from the bar 10, on the drop wire 26. in such an event, the outwardly directed force causes the shaft 74 to operate as a fulcrum class lever turning on an axis taken at a right angle to the axis of the shaft and parallel to the elongated bar. The lever of FIG. 2b pivots about its mounting in the front wall 76 of the front section 34b of the casing such that the rearward extension 72 of the shaft 74 lifts the contact 48 vertically against the contact 60 and coil spring 68 until the forwardly extending surface 52 of the contact 48 engages the contact 40 within the slot 54. At that time a circuit is completed from the bus bar 14 through the

contacts

60, 48 and 40 to the bus bar 16 to thereby operate the machine stop circuit.

The above-described structure of a self-contained stop action switch can be modified in certain details. For example, a modification of the pivot shaft 74 is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b of the drawings where FIG. 4a is a representation of the normal or nonoperated state for a fiber accumulation detection operation. As shown, the shaft 74 is provided with an angled journal 84 supported by a bearing surface 86 in the front wall 76 of the front section 34b of the switch housing. The shaft is free to rotate about its own axis to detect a break in a strand or to tilt about a second axis as describedabove and as shown in FIG. 4b.

DESCRIPTION OF SECOND EMBODIMENT Reference will now be had to FIG. 5a of the drawings; reference numerals applied to those parts of the first and other embodiments which are common to all embodiments are the same throughout this specification. As shown in FIG. 5a, a switch housing 34 supports a fixed contact 88 in a contact seating where the contact 88 differs from the contact 40 in that it need not be provided with a slot such as the slot 54. A second fixed contact 90 is seated within the rear section 34a of the housing. The contact 90 is provided with an arm 92 extending rearwardly through a slot 94 in the backwall 46 of the housing to contact the bus bar l4'through a contact 108, see FIG. 6b and 6c. The shaft 7 4 may conveniently be journaled in the contact 90 to thereby provide additional support for the shaft.

A third contact 96 of resilient or elastic conductive material is supported within the housing by a triangular portion 89 of the contact 88. The contact 96 may be joined to the portion 89 by conductive means such as by being soldered thereto. The contact Mextends vertically within the housing, and it is provided with a conductive portion 98 extending to a position closely adjacent to the fixed. contact 90. Normally and because of its positioning and elasticity the portion 98 of the contact 96 would engage the contact 90 to complete a conductive circuit from the contact 88 through the contact 96 to the contact 90. However, as shown in FIG. 5a, when the switch housing'is mounted on the bar 10 a free floating pin ltltl, supported in a hole 102 in the backwall .46 of the housing, is engaged by the bar 16 such that the pin 100 effects a physical separation of the

contacts

90 and 96. The pin 100 is provided with an enlarged portion 101 within the housing for preventing the pin from being ejected from the housing when the contacts 90 and '96 are closed. The normal operational situation for this embodiment of the invention is disengagement of the contacts Ml and )6. It should be recognized that as alternatives, the bar ill or the contact may be provided with permanently mounted pins for disengaging the

contacts

90 and 96 under normal operating conditions.

Reference will now be had to FIG. 5b of the drawings which is a sectional view-of the'housing' of FIG. 5a and shows a means for mounting the housing to the bar 10. As shown therein, the drill hole 36 in the front section 34b of the housing is of greater diameter than the coaxial hole in the rear section 34a. A shoulder 104 is thereby created in'the housing. In this embodiment of the invention and in the embodiments described below, the housing is secured to the bar by threaded members 105 having coil springs 106 interposed between the screw head and the shoulder 104.

In operation, this and the embodiments of the invention described below. detect a break in a textile strand as described above relative to the first embodiment. That is, the shaft 74 pivots on its own axis to effect engagement of an edge of the contact surface 79 of the contact78 with the edge or surface 80 of the contact 88, thereby completing a circuit from the conductor 14 through the

contacts

90, 78 and 88 to the bus bar 16.

An accumulation of fibers on the strand engaging portion of the drop wire in this embodiment of the invention effects a circuit from the bus bar 14 through the contact 90 to the portion 98 of the contact 96 and from there to the contact 88 and the bus bar 16. In operation, the force produced by the textile strand, as a result of fiber accumulation, on the drop wire is applied by the drop wire as a turning force acting on the switch housing 34. The switch housing pivots in response to this force outwardly from the bar 10 against the coil springs 106 and about an axis that is parallel to the bar 10. In so pivoting, the housing is moved away from the pin 100, such that the contact 96, due to its own elasticity, assumes its normal unflexed position such that its surface 98 engages the contact 90 to thereby complete the circuit described above.

As shown in FIGS. 6a-6c of the drawings a terminal contact 108 of generally W-shape may be'supported in a slot 110 in the backwall 46 of the switch housing. The terminal contact 108 is formed of resilient or elastic conductive material and engages the arm 92 of the contact 90 within the switch housing. As shown in FIG. 6b the terminal contact is in engagement with the bus bar 14 and under compression when the switch housing is in its normal position relative to the bar 10. In the event that an accumulation of fibers on the drop wire results in pivotal motion of the housing 34, the terminal contact through its natural elasticity remains in engagement with the bus bar 14 as shown in FIG. 6c. f

The first embodiment of the invention is constructed such that it is self-contained in the sense that modification of the bar 10 is not necessary; the same statement applies to the second embodiment of the invention in the event that it is pro vided with means to restrainthe contact 96 from engagement with the contact 90 when the switch is mounted on the bar iii. In each of the two embodiments described below it is necessa ry to modify the bar 10. However, each of the hereinafter described embodiments function in much the same manner as the second embodiment, i.e., pivotal motion of the housing in response to fiber accumulation on the drop wire effects a second switching circuit between the

conductors

14 and 16 to thereby energize the textile machine stop circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THIRD EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 7a and 7b of the drawings, the heretofore described switch housing including the

contacts

88 and 90 and the pivot shaft 74 is shown mounted on the bar 10 for pivotal motion about an axis taken parallel to the elongated bar. As shown in FIG. 7b, a contact 112 is electrically connected to and supported by the contact 88 within the switch housing. The contact 112 extends vertically through a slot 114 in the top wall of the rear section 34a of the housing, and the contact 112 is provided with a rearwardly and downwardly extending contact portion 116.

When the housing 34 is mounted normally on the bar 10 the portion 116 of the contact 112 extends into a transverse slot or notch 118 formed in the bar 10 such that the portion 116 is adjacent to and behind the conductor 14;

In operation tilting or pivotal motion of the switch housing as previously described effects an engagement of the portion 116 with the bus bar 14 to thereby complete a circuit from the bus bar through the

contacts

112 and 88 to the bus bar 16.

DESCRIPTION OF FOURTI-l EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. and 8b, the switch housing 34 with the

contacts

88 and 90 and the pivot shaft 74 is shown mounted for pivotal motion on the bar 10. In this embodiment of the invention, the bar 10 is provided with a transversely extending slot or groove to provide a contact seating for a transversely extending pivotal contact 122. The contact 122 is of resilient or elastic conductive material. As shown in FIG. 8b, the contact is supported at one end by the bar 10 in electrical connection with the bus bar 16 and the contact 88 within'the switch housing. The contact 122 extends vertically within the slot 120 to a position adjacent the bus bar 14 and is held from engagement therewith by a projecting portion 124 abutting on the backwall of the switch housing. When the switch housing is pivoted as previously described, the contact 122 follows such motion due to its natural resiliency and closes a circuit between the two bus bars.

We claim:

1. An electrical switch for use with a drop wire assembly for textile machines, the assembly including at least an electrical bus bar and an electric ground, the switch including:

means for mounting said housing on a machine and in said drop wire assembly; first and second contact means supported by said housing and provided with portions thereof extending therefrom I to contact, respectively, said busbar and said ground;

drop wire means including a movable contactor normally restrained from pivotal motion around an axis at right angles to said bar by a strand from the textile machine for effecting an electric circuit between said first and second contact means when the drop wire means is free to pivot about said axis; and

third contact means for effecting an electric circuit from said second contact means to said electrical bus bar in response to a force applied to said drop wire means by said strand generally in an outward direction from said machine.

2. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said third contact means includes a resilient conductor supported in said housing in electrical connection with said second contact means and having a portion thereof extending to a position adjacent said first contact means; said housing being pivotal about an axis parallel to said assembly in response to the outwardly directed force applied to said drop wire means against a restraining force applied by resilient means comprising part of said mounting means and said housing being effective when pivoted to electrically connect the portion of said resilient conductor to said first contact means. I

3. A switch according to claim 2 wherein said first contact means includes a resilient conductor supported by a backwall of said switch housing in electrical connection with said bus bar.

4. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said third contact means comprises a conductor supported in said housing in electrical connection with said second contact means and having a portion thereof extending to a position adjacent to said bus bar; said housing being pivotal about an axis parallel to said assembly in response to the outwardly directed force applied to said drop wire means against a restraining force applied by resilient means comprising part of said mounting means and said housing being effective when pivoted to electrically connect the extending portion of said conductor to said bus bar. n

5. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said third contact means comprises:

a conductive portion of said first contact means supported in said housing in operative relation with said drop wire means, said conductive portion having a surface adjacent said second contact means; and

said drop wire means effecting an electrical connection between said surface and said second contact means in response to the outwardly directed force.

6. A switch according to claim wherein said first contact means comprises a fixed resilient contact and wherein said conductive portion comprises a second contact normally held in a contact seating inthe switch housing by resilient means including said fixed resilient contact, said drop wire means including a shaft member journaled in said second contact for lifting same against said resilient means in response to an outwardly directed force to effect a connection between said surface and said second contact means.

7. An electric switch for use with a drop wire assembly for textile machines including:

a switch housing;

a fixed contact supported within said housing and having a portion thereof extending therefrom;

a shaft joumaled in said housing for pivotal motion about the shaft axis and supported by said housing for pivotal motion about a second axis extending substantially at a right angle to the axis of the shaft, said shaft including a drop wire portion extending from the housing for normally restraining said shaft from pivotal motion about the shaft axis;

movable conductor means operatively engaged by said shaft within said housing for effecting a circuit from said fixed contact to a portion of said movable conductor means supported so as to extend out of said housing, said circuit being effected in response to a turning force applied to said drop wire portion and pivoting said shaft on the second axis; and

said shaft including a pivotal contactor for effecting an elec- I tric circuit from said fixed contact to said movable conductor means when the shaft is free to rotate about the shaft axis.

8. A switch according to claim 7 wherein said movable conductor means includes a resilient contact having a surface adjacent said fixed contact and movableby pivotal motion of said shaft on said second axis to effect a conductive connection between said surface and said fixed contact.

9. A switch according to claim 8 wherein said resilient contact includes: a first conductor supported within said housing in electrical contact with and for vertical movement against a resilient conductor, said shaft being journaled in said first conductor and in electrical connection therewith, said first conductor being provided with a conducting arm normally extending into said fixed contact in a nonconducting relation.

10. A switch according to claim 9 including a coil spring interposed between the switch housing and said resilient conductor.

11. In a drop wire assembly for a textile machine comprising an elongated bar formed of insulating material and having a pair of parallel grooves formedin the outer surface thereof and extending throughout the length of the bar, a pair of electric conductors supported within said grooves and extending throughout the length of said bar, a plurality of electric switches having individual casings of insulating material mounted at spaced points along said bar, each switch comprising a fixed contact having a conductive part extending out of its casing in a location to establish contact with a first conductor of said pair, a first movable contact mounted within its casing for pivotal motion about a first axis at a right angle to said bar, and a drop wire secured to the first movable contact of each switch and being tiltable about said first axis to effect engagement of the first movable contact with the fixed contact within the switch casing, the improvement which comprises:

means mounting the first movable contact for pivotal motion about a second axis at a right angle to said first axis and parallel to said bar, such that the drop wire is effective to pivot the first movable contact about said second axis in response to. a force applied to said drop wire in the direction of said first axis; a second movable contact having a conductive part extending out of its casing in a'location to establish contact with a second conductor of said pair;

' said second axis includes a bearing'forrhiri'g 'aportion of said first movable contact to support the contact in its casing for pivotal motion about said first and second axes.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 movable contact comprises:

a first contact portion supported within its casing for vertical movement against a resilient contact portion;

said last named contact portion being in contact with said second conductor; v v

said first contact portion being provided with a contact surface adjacent said fixed contact; and

said first movable contact being journaled in said first contact portion to effect engagement of said contact surface with the fixed contact when the first movable contact is pivoted about the second axis to thereby effect a connection from said'first conductor of said pair through said fixed contact, said second movable contact to said second conductor of said pair.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first circuit is defined by said second movable contact, said first movable contact and said fixed contact.

15. An electric switch for use with a drop wire assembly for textile machines including:

a switch housing of insulative material;

a first contact supported by said housing, and having a portion externally of said housing for contact with an external circuit; I

a fixed contact supported within said housing and having a portion extending out of said housing for contact with an external circuit;

a shaft journaled in said housing for pivotal motion about an axis extending longitudinally of the'shaft, said shaft being I provided with a contact member in electrical connection with said first contact and pivotal about said axis within the housing;

a resilient contact supported within said housing in electrical connection with said fixed contact, and having a portion for engagement with said first contact; means for mounting said switch to a textile machine and in said drop wire assembly such that the switch housing is pivotal around a second axis extendin g at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and such that the portion of said resilient contact is normally disengaged from said first contact; and

drop wire means secured'to said shaft for pivotal motion about said longitudinal axis to effect engagement to said pivotal contact member with said fixed contact and responsive to a force applied generally in the'direction of said longitudinal axis to pivot said switch housing about the second axis to effect engagement of said resilient contact with said first contact. I 161A switchaccorcling to claim" 15 wherein said mounting means includes:

' at least one spring'member'abutting on said switch housing and on a threaded member'extending through a hole in said housing for threadably engaging said machine; and

means projecting through said housing and abutting said resilient'contact to normally disengage the resilient contact from said first contact.

l7. A switch according to claim 15 wherein said first con- 7 tact includes:

wherein said second a fixed contact member supported in said housing in engagement with the extension of said elastic contact member and wherein'said mounting means includes:

.at least one spring member abutting on said switch housing and on a threaded member extending through a hole in said housing for threadably engaging said machine; and

means projecting through said housing and abutting said resilient contact to normally disengage the resilient contact from said first contact.

18. A drop wire assembly for a textile machine comprising:

an elongated bar of insulating material having first and second spaced conductors supported therein;

a switch housing of insulating material;

a fixed contact supported in said housing and having a portion extending therefrom to contact said first conductor;

a second contact supported by said housing and having portion thereof in contact with said second conductor;

a third contact connected electrically to said fixed contact and having a portion thereof adjacent said second conductor;

a shaft of conductive material journaled in said housing and in contact with said second contact, said shaft having a portion extending from said housing on an axis at a right angle to said bar;

drop wire means secured to said shaft on the extended portion for pivoting said shaft about said axis to engage said shaft with said fixed contact; and

resilient means for mounting said switch housing on said bar such that the housing is tiltable away from the bar to effect an engagement of the third contact with said second conductor.

19. A drop wire assembly according to claim 18 wherein said first and second conductors are supported in longitudinally extending grooves in said bar and wherein said bar is provided with a transverse slot adjacent said switch housing and wherein said third contact comprises a resilient member supported for pivotal motion within said slot, said member being electrically common to said first conductor and said fixed contact, said resilient member being provided with a shoulder abutting on said switch housing such that the resilient member is tiltable with the housing to engage the second conductor.

20. A drop wire assembly according to claim 18 wherein said first and second conductors are supported in longitudinally extending grooves in said bar and wherein said bar is provided with a transverse slot adjacent said switch housing and wherein said third contact comprises a contact membei' supported by said switch housing for tiltable movement therewith and having a portion thereof extending into said slot adjacent said second conductor such that tiltable motion of said housing effects engagement of said contact member with said second conductor.

Claims

1. An electrical switch for use with a drop wire assembly for textile machines, the assembly including at least an electrical bus bar and an electric ground, the switch including: means for mounting said housing on a machine and in said drop wire assembly; first and second contact means supported by said housing and provided with portions thereof extending therefrom to contact, respectively, said bus bar and said ground; drop wire means including a movable contactor normalLy restrained from pivotal motion around an axis at right angles to said bar by a strand from the textile machine for effecting an electric circuit between said first and second contact means when the drop wire means is free to pivot about said axis; and third contact means for effecting an electric circuit from said second contact means to said electrical bus bar in response to a force applied to said drop wire means by said strand generally in an outward direction from said machine.

2. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said third contact means includes a resilient conductor supported in said housing in electrical connection with said second contact means and having a portion thereof extending to a position adjacent said first contact means; said housing being pivotal about an axis parallel to said assembly in response to the outwardly directed force applied to said drop wire means against a restraining force applied by resilient means comprising part of said mounting means and said housing being effective when pivoted to electrically connect the portion of said resilient conductor to said first contact means.

4. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said third contact means comprises a conductor supported in said housing in electrical connection with said second contact means and having a portion thereof extending to a position adjacent to said bus bar; said housing being pivotal about an axis parallel to said assembly in response to the outwardly directed force applied to said drop wire means against a restraining force applied by resilient means comprising part of said mounting means and said housing being effective when pivoted to electrically connect the extending portion of said conductor to said bus bar.

5. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said third contact means comprises: a conductive portion of said first contact means supported in said housing in operative relation with said drop wire means, said conductive portion having a surface adjacent said second contact means; and said drop wire means effecting an electrical connection between said surface and said second contact means in response to the outwardly directed force.

6. A switch according to claim 5 wherein said first contact means comprises a fixed resilient contact and wherein said conductive portion comprises a second contact normally held in a contact seating in the switch housing by resilient means including said fixed resilient contact, said drop wire means including a shaft member journaled in said second contact for lifting same against said resilient means in response to an outwardly directed force to effect a connection between said surface and said second contact means.

7. An electric switch for use with a drop wire assembly for textile machines including: a switch housing; a fixed contact supported within said housing and having a portion thereof extending therefrom; a shaft journaled in said housing for pivotal motion about the shaft axis and supported by said housing for pivotal motion about a second axis extending substantially at a right angle to the axis of the shaft, said shaft including a drop wire portion extending from the housing for normally restraining said shaft from pivotal motion about the shaft axis; movable conductor means operatively engaged by said shaft within said housing for effecting a circuit from said fixed contact to a portion of said movable conductor means supported so as to extend out of said housing, said circuit being effected in response to a turning force applied to said drop wire portion and pivoting said shaft on the second axis; and said shaft including a pivotal contactor for effecting an electric circuit from said fixed contact to said movable conductor means when the shaft is free to rotate about the shaft axis.

8. A switch according to claim 7 wherein said movable conductor means includes a resilient contact having a surface adjacent said fixed contact and movable by pivotal motion of said shaft on said second axis to effect a conductive connection between said surface and said fixed contact.

11. In a drop wire assembly for a textile machine comprising an elongated bar formed of insulating material and having a pair of parallel grooves formed in the outer surface thereof and extending throughout the length of the bar, a pair of electric conductors supported within said grooves and extending throughout the length of said bar, a plurality of electric switches having individual casings of insulating material mounted at spaced points along said bar, each switch comprising a fixed contact having a conductive part extending out of its casing in a location to establish contact with a first conductor of said pair, a first movable contact mounted within its casing for pivotal motion about a first axis at a right angle to said bar, and a drop wire secured to the first movable contact of each switch and being tiltable about said first axis to effect engagement of the first movable contact with the fixed contact within the switch casing, the improvement which comprises: means mounting the first movable contact for pivotal motion about a second axis at a right angle to said first axis and parallel to said bar, such that the drop wire is effective to pivot the first movable contact about said second axis in response to a force applied to said drop wire in the direction of said first axis; a second movable contact having a conductive part extending out of its casing in a location to establish contact with a second conductor of said pair; said second movable contact being in electrical connection with said first movable contact to effect a first circuit between said pair of conductors when the first movable contact is in engagement with said fixed contact; and said second movable contact being operatively engaged by said first movable contact to effect a second circuit between said conductors when the first movable contact is pivoted about the second axis.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means mounting said first movable contact for pivotal motion about said second axis includes a bearing forming a portion of said first movable contact to support the contact in its casing for pivotal motion about said first and second axes.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said second movable contact comprises: a first contact portion supported within its casing for vertical movement against a resilient contact portion; said last named contact portion being in contact with said second conductor; said first contact portion being provided with a contact surface adjacent said fixed contact; and said first movable contact being journaled in said first contact portion to effect engagement of said contact surface with the fixed contact when the first movable contact is pivoted about the second axis to thereby effect a connection from said first conductor of said pair through said fixed contact, said second movable contact to said second conductor of said pair.

15. An electric switch for use with a drop wire assembly for textile machinEs including: a switch housing of insulative material; a first contact supported by said housing, and having a portion externally of said housing for contact with an external circuit; a fixed contact supported within said housing and having a portion extending out of said housing for contact with an external circuit; a shaft journaled in said housing for pivotal motion about an axis extending longitudinally of the shaft, said shaft being provided with a contact member in electrical connection with said first contact and pivotal about said axis within the housing; a resilient contact supported within said housing in electrical connection with said fixed contact, and having a portion for engagement with said first contact; means for mounting said switch to a textile machine and in said drop wire assembly such that the switch housing is pivotal around a second axis extending at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and such that the portion of said resilient contact is normally disengaged from said first contact; and drop wire means secured to said shaft for pivotal motion about said longitudinal axis to effect engagement to said pivotal contact member with said fixed contact and responsive to a force applied generally in the direction of said longitudinal axis to pivot said switch housing about the second axis to effect engagement of said resilient contact with said first contact.

16. A switch according to claim 15 wherein said mounting means includes: at least one spring member abutting on said switch housing and on a threaded member extending through a hole in said housing for threadably engaging said machine; and means projecting through said housing and abutting said resilient contact to normally disengage the resilient contact from said first contact.

17. A switch according to claim 15 wherein said first contact includes: an elastic contact member supported by a backwall of the switch housing and extending into the housing; and a fixed contact member supported in said housing in engagement with the extension of said elastic contact member and wherein said mounting means includes: at least one spring member abutting on said switch housing and on a threaded member extending through a hole in said housing for threadably engaging said machine; and means projecting through said housing and abutting said resilient contact to normally disengage the resilient contact from said first contact.

18. A drop wire assembly for a textile machine comprising: an elongated bar of insulating material having first and second spaced conductors supported therein; a switch housing of insulating material; a fixed contact supported in said housing and having a portion extending therefrom to contact said first conductor; a second contact supported by said housing and having portion thereof in contact with said second conductor; a third contact connected electrically to said fixed contact and having a portion thereof adjacent said second conductor; a shaft of conductive material journaled in said housing and in contact with said second contact, said shaft having a portion extending from said housing on an axis at a right angle to said bar; drop wire means secured to said shaft on the extended portion for pivoting said shaft about said axis to engage said shaft with said fixed contact; and resilient means for mounting said switch housing on said bar such that the housing is tiltable away from the bar to effect an engagement of the third contact with said second conductor.

20. A drop wire assembly according to claim 18 wherein said first and second conductors are supported in longitudinally extending grooves in said bar and wherein said bar is provided with a transverse slot adjacent said switch housing and wherein said third contact comprises a contact member supported by said switch housing for tiltable movement therewith and having a portion thereof extending into said slot adjacent said second conductor such that tiltable motion of said housing effects engagement of said contact member with said second conductor.