US3571547A - Electric current contact - Google Patents
Electric current contact Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3571547A US3571547A US830345A US3571547DA US3571547A US 3571547 A US3571547 A US 3571547A US 830345 A US830345 A US 830345A US 3571547D A US3571547D A US 3571547DA US 3571547 A US3571547 A US 3571547A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- switching rod
- contact
- cylindrical
- strip
- holder
- 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
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/62—Heating or cooling of contacts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
- H01H1/36—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding
- H01H1/38—Plug-and-socket contacts
Definitions
- the invention relates to an electric switch comprising an axially movable switching contact and a resilient annular fixed contact which is in permanent contact with said switching contact and connects said switching contact electrically conductively with the circuit to be closed and opened by said switch.
- the invention has for its object to provide apermanent electrically conductive connection between a terminal of the switch and the axially movable switching contact, said connection having a simple construction, requiring little space, being easy to mount, having practically no braking action on the switching contact, having no unfavorable influence on the electric field in the switch and maintaining under all circumstances that means also during operation under very large short circuit currents, a satisfactory conductive contact between the movable switching contact and the relevant stationary conductive parts of the switch.
- this is achieved by the provision of a fixed contact which is permanently in contact with the movable switching contact and consists of a zigzag folded metal strip surrounded and supported by an annular holder, said strip being bent in the shape of a ring which snugly encloses the switching contact and has in its free state an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the switching contact. If in this construction the switching contact is inserted in the fixed contact the parts of the zigzag folded annularly bent strip of the fixed contact are forced a little out of their free position, so that the strip contacts with its folds lying at the inner circumference thereof, with resilient pressure the switching contact.
- said ring comes to lie with a great number of individual resilient linear contact areas against the switching contact and, under all circumstances, a favourable current transfer is obtained between the switching contact and the annularly bent strip. Owing to its zigzag shape the strip has a large cooling surface, so that the fixed contact is well cooled and can be overloaded considerably.
- FIG. 1 partly an axial sectional view and partly an elevational view of an axially movable switching contact positioned in a fixed contact, said contacts forming part of a switch according to the invention and FIG. 2 on a larger scale a cross-sectional view taken on the line II-II in FIG. 1.
- l is a portion of a movable switching contact in the shape of an axially movable switching rod.
- This switching contact is permanently snugly enclosed by a zigzag folded metal strip 2 which is bent in the shape of a ring.
- This zigzag folded annularly bent strip 2 is mounted in an annular holder 3, to which the circuit to be closed and to be interrupted by the switch is connected in a manner not shown.
- FIG. 2 illustrates how the strip 2 is folded and extends between the holder 3 and the switching rod.
- the strip is folded in such a manner, that the folds 4 lying on the inner circumin pairs throughout their length.
- the pairs of parts 2', 2 join with cylindrically bent portions 5. Since in the free state of the ring formed by the strip 2 the inner diameter of said ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the switching rod 1, the pairs of parts 2', 2" will be forced aside, when the switching rod is inserted into the fixed contact, so that they will be forced with a certain spring force against the switching rod.
- the torque required for this spring force is taken up by the cylindrically bent portions 5 which bear against the inner periphery of the annular holder 3 and constitute in pairs a relatively large foot for each pair of parts2',2" ofthe strip 2.
- the movable switching contact may also be formed as an axially movable tubular contact.
- An electric switch comprising: an axially movable switching rod, and a resilient annular fixed contact which is in permanent axially sliding contact with said switching rod and connects said switching rod electrically conductively with the circuit to be closed and opened by said switch; said fixed contact comprising a stationary annular metal holder surrounding said switching rod, and a stationary zigzag folded metal strip bent in the shape of a closed ring and supported in said holder between said holder and said switching rod; and the parts of the zigzag folded metal strip extending substantially tangentially in respect of the switching rod and being forced against said switching rod by their resiliency, said zigzag folded metal strip parts joining each other, at the inner circumference of the ring formed by said zigzag folded metal strip, in pairs with sharp folds of and thereby lying substantially against each other in pairs throughout the major portion of their length.
- An electric switch comprising: an axially movable switching rod having a cylindrical outer surface and an annular fixed contact which is in sliding contact with said outer surface of the switching rod to connect said switching rod in electrically conductive relation with a circuit to be closed and opened by said switch; said fixed contact comprising a stationary metal holder having an annular recess surrounding said switching rod, and a zigzag metal strip seated in said recess to form an annulus surrounding and engaging said switching rod; said annular recess presenting a cylindrical surface concentric with said outer surface of the switching rod and spaced radially therefrom by a predetermined distance; and the zigzag folding of said metal strip presenting strip parts of which adjacent pairs thereof are joined at the inner circumference of said annulus along acute folds and in which adjacent strip parts are joined at the outer circumference of said annulus along cylindrical bent portions, said cylindrical bent portions and said acute folds being parallel with said cylindrical bent portions engaging said cylindrical surface of said holder and said acute folds engaging said cylindrical outer surface of said switching rod, and each strip part being of
Landscapes
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
- Contacts (AREA)
- Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
Abstract
An electric switch having an axially movable switching contact and a resilient annular fixed contact. The fixed contact is in permanent contact with said switching contact and consists of a zigzag folded metal strip surrounded and supported by an annular holder. The metal strip is bent in the shape of a ring which snugly encloses the switching contact and is constituted by a circular series of pairs of contact lips.
Description
United States Patent Inventors Rintje Boersma Harmelen;
Gijsbert W. Irik, Bilthoven, Netherlands 830,345
June 4, 1969 Mar. 23, 197 l N.V. COQ" Utrecht, Netherlands June 5, 1968 Netherlands 68.07852 Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTACT 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.
U.S. Cl 200/166 Int. Cl .t H0lh l/48 Field of Search 200/166 (Bl), 166 (B8) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,975,254 3/ i961 Yanagisawa 200/166 (B l)(X) 3,087,038 4/1963 Bethke Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Attorney-lmirie, Smiley, Snyder & Butrum ABSTRACT: An electric switch having an axially movable switching contact and a resilient annular fixed contact. The fixed contact is in permanent contact with said switching contact and consists of a zigzag folded metal strip surrounded and supported by an annular holder. The metal strip is bent in the shape of a ring which snugly encloses the switching contact and is constituted by a circular series of pairs of contact lips.
ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTACT The invention relates to an electric switch comprising an axially movable switching contact and a resilient annular fixed contact which is in permanent contact with said switching contact and connects said switching contact electrically conductively with the circuit to be closed and opened by said switch.
The invention has for its object to provide apermanent electrically conductive connection between a terminal of the switch and the axially movable switching contact, said connection having a simple construction, requiring little space, being easy to mount, having practically no braking action on the switching contact, having no unfavorable influence on the electric field in the switch and maintaining under all circumstances that means also during operation under very large short circuit currents, a satisfactory conductive contact between the movable switching contact and the relevant stationary conductive parts of the switch. In accordance with the invention this is achieved by the provision of a fixed contact which is permanently in contact with the movable switching contact and consists of a zigzag folded metal strip surrounded and supported by an annular holder, said strip being bent in the shape of a ring which snugly encloses the switching contact and has in its free state an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the switching contact. If in this construction the switching contact is inserted in the fixed contact the parts of the zigzag folded annularly bent strip of the fixed contact are forced a little out of their free position, so that the strip contacts with its folds lying at the inner circumference thereof, with resilient pressure the switching contact. The result thereof is that said ring comes to lie with a great number of individual resilient linear contact areas against the switching contact and, under all circumstances, a favourable current transfer is obtained between the switching contact and the annularly bent strip. Owing to its zigzag shape the strip has a large cooling surface, so that the fixed contact is well cooled and can be overloaded considerably.
It is advantageous to fold the zigzag folded metal strip bent in the shape of a ring in such a manner, that, at the inner circumference of said ring, the parts of said strip join in pair with sharp folds of 180 and thereby abut against each other in pairs throughout their length. Due to this construction a greater elastic deformation of the pairs 'of parts of the zigzag strip is possible, since said pairs'of parts then act as resilient contact lips. As the outer periphery of the strip bent in the shape of a ring is longer than the inner periphery thereof, the pairs of parts may join, at the outer circumference of said ring,
the adjacent parts by means of cylindrically bent portions, of
which the radius is defined by the radius of said outer circumference and the number of pairs of parts of the strip.
The invention will be elucidated with the aid of the drawing. Therein is:
FIG. 1 partly an axial sectional view and partly an elevational view of an axially movable switching contact positioned in a fixed contact, said contacts forming part of a switch according to the invention and FIG. 2 on a larger scale a cross-sectional view taken on the line II-II in FIG. 1.
. In the drawing l is a portion of a movable switching contact in the shape of an axially movable switching rod. This switching contact is permanently snugly enclosed by a zigzag folded metal strip 2 which is bent in the shape of a ring. This zigzag folded annularly bent strip 2 is mounted in an annular holder 3, to which the circuit to be closed and to be interrupted by the switch is connected in a manner not shown. The
which the switching rod 1 can be slidingly moved. The fixed contact cooperating with the switching contact and forming together therewith the switching element of the switch is not shown.
FIG. 2 illustrates how the strip 2 is folded and extends between the holder 3 and the switching rod. The strip is folded in such a manner, that the folds 4 lying on the inner circumin pairs throughout their length. At the outer circumference of said ring the pairs of parts 2', 2 join with cylindrically bent portions 5. Since in the free state of the ring formed by the strip 2 the inner diameter of said ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the switching rod 1, the pairs of parts 2', 2" will be forced aside, when the switching rod is inserted into the fixed contact, so that they will be forced with a certain spring force against the switching rod. The torque required for this spring force is taken up by the cylindrically bent portions 5 which bear against the inner periphery of the annular holder 3 and constitute in pairs a relatively large foot for each pair of parts2',2" ofthe strip 2.
The movable switching contact may also be formed as an axially movable tubular contact.
We claim: 1. An electric switch comprising: an axially movable switching rod, and a resilient annular fixed contact which is in permanent axially sliding contact with said switching rod and connects said switching rod electrically conductively with the circuit to be closed and opened by said switch; said fixed contact comprising a stationary annular metal holder surrounding said switching rod, and a stationary zigzag folded metal strip bent in the shape of a closed ring and supported in said holder between said holder and said switching rod; and the parts of the zigzag folded metal strip extending substantially tangentially in respect of the switching rod and being forced against said switching rod by their resiliency, said zigzag folded metal strip parts joining each other, at the inner circumference of the ring formed by said zigzag folded metal strip, in pairs with sharp folds of and thereby lying substantially against each other in pairs throughout the major portion of their length. 2. An electric switch comprising: an axially movable switching rod having a cylindrical outer surface and an annular fixed contact which is in sliding contact with said outer surface of the switching rod to connect said switching rod in electrically conductive relation with a circuit to be closed and opened by said switch; said fixed contact comprising a stationary metal holder having an annular recess surrounding said switching rod, and a zigzag metal strip seated in said recess to form an annulus surrounding and engaging said switching rod; said annular recess presenting a cylindrical surface concentric with said outer surface of the switching rod and spaced radially therefrom by a predetermined distance; and the zigzag folding of said metal strip presenting strip parts of which adjacent pairs thereof are joined at the inner circumference of said annulus along acute folds and in which adjacent strip parts are joined at the outer circumference of said annulus along cylindrical bent portions, said cylindrical bent portions and said acute folds being parallel with said cylindrical bent portions engaging said cylindrical surface of said holder and said acute folds engaging said cylindrical outer surface of said switching rod, and each strip part being of a length between said acute bends and said cylindrical bent portions which is greater than said predetermined distance between the outer surface of said switching rod and said cylindrical surface of said holder whereby said strip parts are urged outwardly by said switching rod forcibly into contact with said cylindrical surface and resiliently into contact with said switching rod. 3. The electric switch according to claim 2 wherein said acute folds dispose adjacent pairs of said strip parts in contact with each other substantially throughout their lengths.
Claims (3)
1. An electric switch comprising: an axially movable switching rod, and a resilient annular fixed contact which is in permanent axially sliding contact with said switching rod and connects said switching rod electrically conductively with the circuit to be closed and opened by said switch; said fixed contact comprising a stationary annular metal holder surrounding said switching rod, and a stationary zigzag folded metal strip bent in the shape of a closed ring and supported in said holder between said holder and said switching rod; and the parts of the zigzag folded metal strip extending substantially tangentially in respect of the switching rod and being forced against said switching rod by their resiliency, said zigzag folded metal strip parts joining each other, at the inner circumference of the ring formed by said zigzag folded metal strip, in pairs with sharp folds of 180* and thereby lying substantially against each other in pairs throughout the major portion of their length.
2. An electric switch comprising: an axially movable switching rod having a cylindrical outer surface and an annular fixed contact which is in sliding contact with said outer surface of the switching rod to connect said switching rod in electrically conductive relation with a circuit to be closed and opened by said switch; said fixed contact comprising a stationary metal holder having an annular recess surrounding said switching rod, and a zigzag metal strip seated in said recess to form an annulus surrounding and engaging said switching rod; said annular recess presenting a cylindrical surface concentric with said outer surface of the switching rod and spaced radially therefrom by a predetermined distance; and the zigzag folding of said metal strip presenting strip parts of which adjacent pairs thereof are joined at the inner circumference of said aNnulus along acute folds and in which adjacent strip parts are joined at the outer circumference of said annulus along cylindrical bent portions, said cylindrical bent portions and said acute folds being parallel with said cylindrical bent portions engaging said cylindrical surface of said holder and said acute folds engaging said cylindrical outer surface of said switching rod, and each strip part being of a length between said acute bends and said cylindrical bent portions which is greater than said predetermined distance between the outer surface of said switching rod and said cylindrical surface of said holder whereby said strip parts are urged outwardly by said switching rod forcibly into contact with said cylindrical surface and resiliently into contact with said switching rod.
3. The electric switch according to claim 2 wherein said acute folds dispose adjacent pairs of said strip parts in contact with each other substantially throughout their lengths.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL6807852A NL6807852A (en) | 1968-06-05 | 1968-06-05 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3571547A true US3571547A (en) | 1971-03-23 |
Family
ID=19803818
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US830345A Expired - Lifetime US3571547A (en) | 1968-06-05 | 1969-06-04 | Electric current contact |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3571547A (en) |
JP (1) | JPS497937B1 (en) |
BE (1) | BE733987A (en) |
DE (2) | DE1790035B2 (en) |
FR (1) | FR1581930A (en) |
GB (1) | GB1210636A (en) |
NL (2) | NL6807852A (en) |
SE (1) | SE362981B (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3751619A (en) * | 1971-07-01 | 1973-08-07 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Electrical contact structure of the plug-and-socket type circuit breakers |
US3909573A (en) * | 1974-04-24 | 1975-09-30 | Ite Imperial Corp | Squeeze coil primary disconnect contacts |
US4462657A (en) * | 1980-04-18 | 1984-07-31 | Eaton Corporation | Compliant electrical connector for flat conductors |
US5012807A (en) * | 1990-05-03 | 1991-05-07 | Siemens-Pacesetter, Inc. | Multi-part molded pacemaker connector and method of making same |
US5076270A (en) * | 1990-05-03 | 1991-12-31 | Siemens-Pacesetter, Inc. | Apparatus and method for making electrical connections in an implantable pacemaker |
EP2698803A1 (en) * | 2012-08-17 | 2014-02-19 | ABB Technology Ltd | A circuit breaker |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB8322848D0 (en) * | 1983-08-25 | 1983-09-28 | Electroheating Int | Sliding contact arrangement |
US4538019A (en) * | 1984-04-30 | 1985-08-27 | United Technologies Corporation | Grounding of a control rod extending through an opening in a structure |
FR2688338B1 (en) * | 1992-03-06 | 1997-04-04 | Alsthom Gec | ELECTRICAL ANNULAR CONTACT DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER. |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2975254A (en) * | 1958-06-25 | 1961-03-14 | Allis Chalmers Mfg Co | Spring bearing for vacuumized electric devices |
US3087038A (en) * | 1959-10-19 | 1963-04-23 | Raymond W Bethke | Electric current interchange contact |
-
0
- NL NL130854D patent/NL130854C/xx active
-
1968
- 1968-06-05 NL NL6807852A patent/NL6807852A/xx unknown
- 1968-08-30 DE DE19681790035 patent/DE1790035B2/en active Pending
- 1968-09-26 FR FR1581930D patent/FR1581930A/fr not_active Expired
-
1969
- 1969-03-31 DE DE6912957U patent/DE6912957U/en not_active Expired
- 1969-06-02 JP JP44042552A patent/JPS497937B1/ja active Pending
- 1969-06-02 SE SE07753/69A patent/SE362981B/xx unknown
- 1969-06-03 BE BE733987D patent/BE733987A/xx unknown
- 1969-06-04 US US830345A patent/US3571547A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1969-06-05 GB GB28461/69A patent/GB1210636A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2975254A (en) * | 1958-06-25 | 1961-03-14 | Allis Chalmers Mfg Co | Spring bearing for vacuumized electric devices |
US3087038A (en) * | 1959-10-19 | 1963-04-23 | Raymond W Bethke | Electric current interchange contact |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3751619A (en) * | 1971-07-01 | 1973-08-07 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Electrical contact structure of the plug-and-socket type circuit breakers |
US3909573A (en) * | 1974-04-24 | 1975-09-30 | Ite Imperial Corp | Squeeze coil primary disconnect contacts |
US4462657A (en) * | 1980-04-18 | 1984-07-31 | Eaton Corporation | Compliant electrical connector for flat conductors |
US5012807A (en) * | 1990-05-03 | 1991-05-07 | Siemens-Pacesetter, Inc. | Multi-part molded pacemaker connector and method of making same |
US5076270A (en) * | 1990-05-03 | 1991-12-31 | Siemens-Pacesetter, Inc. | Apparatus and method for making electrical connections in an implantable pacemaker |
EP2698803A1 (en) * | 2012-08-17 | 2014-02-19 | ABB Technology Ltd | A circuit breaker |
WO2014026924A1 (en) * | 2012-08-17 | 2014-02-20 | Abb Technology Ltd | A circuit breaker |
US9245700B2 (en) | 2012-08-17 | 2016-01-26 | Abb Technology Ltd | Circuit breaker |
RU2592633C1 (en) * | 2012-08-17 | 2016-07-27 | Абб Текнолоджи Лтд | Circuit breaker |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE6912957U (en) | 1969-11-27 |
NL130854C (en) | |
BE733987A (en) | 1969-11-17 |
GB1210636A (en) | 1970-10-28 |
FR1581930A (en) | 1969-09-19 |
SE362981B (en) | 1973-12-27 |
DE1790035A1 (en) | 1970-06-04 |
DE1790035B2 (en) | 1971-06-03 |
NL6807852A (en) | 1969-12-09 |
JPS497937B1 (en) | 1974-02-23 |
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