US3678235A

US3678235A - Axially reciprocal actuator for a sealed switch

Info

Publication number: US3678235A
Application number: US94500A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred N Anderson
Original assignee: Cherry Electrical Products Corp
Current assignee: Cherry Corp
Priority date: 1970-12-02
Filing date: 1970-12-02
Publication date: 1972-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-18

Abstract

A sealed case housing, a switch blade and associated fixed contact terminals, an actuator end within the case, and a stationary rod providing a support for the case. The stationary rod extends parallel to the normal plane of the switch blade and coplanar to the actuator, which in turn is axially movable through the case relative to the support rod and longitudinally of the switch blade for actuation thereof upon movement in either direction.

Description

United States Patent Anderson 51 July 18,1972

[54] AXIALLY RECIPROCAL ACTUATOR FOR A SEALED SWITCH [72] Inventor: Fred N. Anderson, Waukegan, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Cherry Electrical Products Corporation,

I Waukegan, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 94,500

[521 U.S.CI ..200/168G, ZOO/16R l5 1 l Int. Cl. I 58 I Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,977,887 10/1934 Murray ..200/16 R 2,222,765 11/1940 Geyer ..200/16 R X 3,258,549 6/ 1966 Stol ..200/16 R 3,086,090 4/1963 Carroll ...200/ 168 G X 3,126,467 3/1964 Stevens, Jr. ..200/ 168 G Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Attorney-Edward C. Threedy [57] ABSTRACT A sealed case housing, a switch blade and associated fixed contact terminals, an actuator end within the case, and a stationary rod providing a support for the case. The stationary rod extends parallel to the normal plane of the switch blade and coplanar to the actuator, which in turn is axially movable through the case relative to the support rod and longitudinally of the switch blade for actuation thereof upon movement in either direction.

5 Chins, 10 Drawing Figures AXIALLY RECIPROCAL ACTUATOR FOR A SEALED SWITCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An axially reciprocal movable actuator for a sealed switch providing a sectional case housing an elongated switch blade having contacts at opposite free ends which are normally spaced from associated fixed contact-bearing terminals. The sealed case is fixedly mounted upon one end of an elongated support rod that extends coplanar with respect to the actuator.

Within the case the actuator end has mounted thereon a pair of opposing spring cups maintained in a separated relationship by a spring disposed therebetween and coiled about the actuator. Each cup has a corresponding side edge in engagement with a portion of the switch blade adjacent each of the ends thereof. The cups are attached to the actuator and positioned relative to each other in such manner that either, but never both, will be moved with the actuator in the direction of its movement axially of the support rod so as to yieldably flex the corresponding end portion of the switch blade engaged thereby into contact with its associated spaced bearing terminal for completing a circuit therethrough.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by the novel arrangement of parts which coact in a prescribed manner and which are best illustrated by the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the switch with a portion of the side wall of the case removed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the case sections prior to assembly;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the switch with a portion of the cover removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of one of the fixed contacts of the switch;

FIG; 5 is an enlarged side view of a terminal and switch plade mounting bracket as employed in the switch;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sideelevational view of another terminal of the switch;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the switch blade and part of the mounting bracket therefor;

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view of one of the spring cup of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the spring cup shown in FIG. 8', and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view-of one end of the actuator.

The switch 10 of this invention consists of a plurality of components to be hereinafter described, which are normally contained in a sealed case that is comprised of

complementary sections

11 and 12. Each section provides wall partitions and abutments which, when mated, fonn an internal compartment. In this respect, section 11 provides a

wall partition

13, 14, 15 and 16, generally outlining the internal compartment 17.

Extending upwardly from the wall 14 is a leg 18 provided with a semicircular recess 19 which tapers at its bottom end into a slot 20 that has open communication with the compartment 17. The rear wall 21 of the compartment 17 is formed to provide a ridge 22 extending in alignment with the slot 20 substantially throughout the compartment 17, as shown in FIG. 2.

The wall 15 is provided with

slots

23, 24 and 25, through which portions of the

fixed terminals

26 and 27 and the combination terminal and switch blade mounting 28 project. In this manner the contact-bearing

heads

29 and 30 of the

fixed terminals

26 and 27 will bepositioned within the compartment 17, as will a connecting end 31 of the terminal and mounting bracket 28, in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

Extending downwardly from the wall 16 of the case 11 is a leg 32 which, like the leg 18, provides a semicircular recess 33 which terminates into a slit 34 that does not extend into the compartment 17. I

The assembled switch 10 is mounted upon a stationary support rod 35 which has its circular body portion disposed in the semicircular recesses 33 and 33' of the

case sections

11 and 12, and which has its end portion flattened longitudinally so as to be received in the slits 34 and 34' provided by the respective case sections. In this manner, the switch housing is fixedly connected to the support rod 35.

The switch actuator comprises an elongated rod 37 which has a portion of its circular body disposed in the semicircular recesses 19 and 19' of the

case sections

11 and 12, while its flattened end portion 38 extends through the slots 20 and 20' into the interior compartment 17. The flattened end portion 38 of the actuator 37 is formed to provide an elongated stem 39 which terminates at its free endinto a cross member 40 having a width greater than that of the stem 39. Inwardly of its end the stem 39 provides a rectangularly shaped flat portion 41 which has a width equal to the width of the cross member 40, with such body portion 41 terminating into an enlarged rectangular section 42 which provides oppositely laterally extending

shoulder members

43 and 44 having a width.

therebetween greater than the width of the rectangular body portion 41 and cross member 40. The particular ends construction of the actuator 37 is for the purpose hereinafter described.

Adapted to be mounted on the stem 39 of the inner portion 38 of the actuator 37 are a pair of spring cups 45. These cups 45 are identical in construction, and therefore the specific detail thereof is singularly shown as in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 8, the spring cup 45 comprises a substantially square body portion, the

opposite side edges

46 and 47 of which are tapered inwardly in the direction of each other, as clearly shown. The smaller wall surface of the spring cup 45 is recessed as at 48 and is provided with a counterbore 49 which extends through the entire body of the spring cup 45. This counterbore 49 is preferably circular in cross section and provides squared keyways 50 extending laterally through a transversely extending centerline from the periphery of the counterbore 49, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. Like recesses 51 are formed in the top wall section of the spring cup 45, which extend in a transverse direction to the keyways 50 and which do not extend completely through the body, as shown.

In constructing the actuator, a spring cup 45 is passed upon the stem 39 of the actuator 37 with the cross member 40 finding clearance for movement throughthe keyways 50. This first cup 45, as mounted on the stem 39 of the actuator 37, is then rotated about the stem 39 through so that the shoulders 52 provided by the enlarged body portion 41 of such stem 39, will sit within the recesses 51 formed in the top wall of the spring cup 45.

A coil spring 53 is then journaled upon the stem 39 of the actuator and has one end received in the recess 48 provided by the underside of the spring cup 45. A second spring cup 45 is then mounted on the stem 39 in a manner such that its recess receives the opposite free end of the spring 53, and with the cross members 40 disposed in the recesses 51 after they have been passed through the keyway 50 and the spring cup rotated as hereinbefore described. By this construction, each of the spring cups 45 is attached to the actuator 37 for independent movement therewith in the direction of its movement.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the actuator 37 is moved in a downward direction, as indicated by the arrow, the shoulders 52 will bear against the uppennost spring cup 45 and move it downwardly with the actuator 37 against the coils of the spring A 53. The lowermost spring cup 45 is arrested against movement therewith by a wall abutment 54 formed within the cavity 17.

To prevent the spring cups 45 from rotating about the stem 39 of the actuator, the side walls 55 and 56 thereof are provided with aligned notches 57 which freely receive and ride upon the ridges 22 and 22' formed on the

rear walls

21 and 21 of the

switch case sections

11 and 12.

One of the tapered side walls 47 of each of the spring cups 45 is in contact with a

curved portion

58 and 59 of an elongated switch blade 60 which has been mounted upon the end 31 of the terminal and mounting bracket 28. This elongated switch blade 60 lies in a plane which is normally parallel to the path of travel of the actuator 37. By such a construction, when, as can be visualized in FIG. 1, the actuator is moved in a downward direction and the upper spring cup 45 engages the curve portion 58 of the switch blade 60, the free end 61 of the I blade 60 will be flexed out of its normal longitudinal plane as the spring cup 45 continues in its directional movement, until contact is made with the fixed terminal 26, establishing a circuit therethrough.

In the event the actuator 37 is caused to be moved in an upward direction, the upper spring cup 45 is arrested against movement therewith in that direction by a wall abutment 63, while the lower spring cup 45 will be moved in such upward direction and engage the lower curved portion 59 of the switch 60, causing the lower free end 62 of the switch to be flexed out of its normal longitudinal plane into contact with the fixed terminal 27, and thus establish an independent circuit therethrough.

When the switch components have been assembled as hereinbefore described and placed with in the

mating case sections

11 and 12, they are ultrasonically welded to completely seal the housing against dirt, dust, moisture, and the like.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that l have provided a switch that has a positive switch actuation, with the switch actuator having an axially reciprocal movement through the switch housing so as to move a switching member in the direction of the movement of the actuator, to establish selective circuits through different fixed terminals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An axially reciprocal actuator for a sealed switch having a hollow case housing the switch components including fixed spaced apart terminals and a switch blade mounting bracket, wherein the improvement comprises:

a. complementary mating case sections providing a switch housing having a substantially elongated hollow compartment;

b. a support for said switch housing extending longitudinally from one end thereof,

c. an actuator journaled through the other end of said switch housing and reciprocally movable therethrough and having a free end disposed within said compartment in axial alignment with respect to said support, an elongated switch blade connected to its mounting bracket within said compartment with its ends yieldably spaced from the terminals, and extending in a longitudinal plane normal to the axis of said actuator and spaced substantially parallelly with respect to said free end thereof,

e. a pair of longitudinally spaced opposed switch-contacting members each slidably journaled on the free end of said actuator and independently movable in the direction of each other upon corresponding directional movement of said actuator,

f. and means for resistantly separating said switch-contacting members from each other and normally out of contact with said switch blade. Y

2. A device as defined by claim 1 including longitudinally spaced moving means on said free end of said actuator in contact with said switch-contacting members for individually moving each of said switch-contacting members in the direction of the other upon corresponding directional movement of said free end of said actuator within said compartment, and means within said compartment for arresting each of said switch-contacting members against movement with the other switch-contacting member when either of said switchcontactmg members 18 individually moved by said moving means on said actuator.

3. A device as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for resistantly separating said switch-contacting members comprises a spring coiled about said free end of said actuator between said opposed switch-contacting members.

4. A device as defined by claim 4 and including longitudinally spaced moving means on the free end of said actuator in contact with said switch-contacting members for individually moving each of said switch-contacting members in the direction of the other and against said coil spring therebetween upon corresponding directional movement of said free end of said actuator within said compartment.

5. A device as defined by claim 3 wherein said longitudinally spaced moving means comprises pairs of laterally extending shoulders on said free end of said actuator, with each pair of shoulders in contact with an adjacent switch-contacting member for moving the same axially of said actuator in one direction upon movement of said actuator in such direction.

Claims

1. An axially reciprocal actuator for a sealed switch having a hollow case housing the switch components including fixed spaced apart terminals and a switch blade mounting bracket, wherein the improvement comprises: a. complementary mating case sections providing a switch housing having a substantially elongated hollow compartment; b. a support for said switch housing extending longitudinally from one end thereof, c. an actuator journaled through the other end of said switch housing and reciprocally movable therethrough and having a free end disposed within said compartment in axial alignment with respect to said support, an elongated switch blade connected to its mounting bracket within said compartment with its ends yieldably spaced from the terminals, and extending in a longitudinal plane normal to the axis of sAid actuator and spaced substantially parallelly with respect to said free end thereof, e. a pair of longitudinally spaced opposed switch-contacting members each slidably journaled on the free end of said actuator and independently movable in the direction of each other upon corresponding directional movement of said actuator, f. and means for resistantly separating said switch-contacting members from each other and normally out of contact with said switch blade.

2. A device as defined by claim 1 including longitudinally spaced moving means on said free end of said actuator in contact with said switch-contacting members for individually moving each of said switch-contacting members in the direction of the other upon corresponding directional movement of said free end of said actuator within said compartment, and means within said compartment for arresting each of said switch-contacting members against movement with the other switch-contacting member when either of said switch-contacting members is individually moved by said moving means on said actuator.