US1513437A - Electrical switch - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1924. 7 1,513,437

L. J. VOORHEES ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 6, 1920 Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,513,437 PATENT OFFICE.

LEE J. VOOBHEES, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application filed February 6, 1920.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LEE J. VooRHEEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical switches of a kind havinga primary circuit-controlling mechanism, normally freely operable to open or close an electrical circuit, and having also a superior controlling or locking mechanism adapted, on proper manipulation, to place the primary mechanism in a position to either open or close the circuit, as desired, and to retain the primary mechanism in such position until further manipulation of the secondary-or locking mechanism. Such switches are applicable to electrical apparatus in which there is a circuit which must, under certain operating conditions, 'be frequently opened and closed, and with a minimum of physical exertion, but which, under certain other operating conditions, must be opened or closed for prolonged periods of time. In order to obtain the desirable facility of operation, the primary circuit-controlling mechanism may take the form of a member which may be moved by the pressure of the thumb or finger, and it may be restrained by a spring so that it will always return to the same position when the pressure is removed. YVhen the above or a similar form of primary circuit-controlling mechanism is employed, the locking mechanism must be capable of replacing manual pressure on the primary circuit-controlling mechanism at times when the primary mechanism is required to be maintained for prolonged periods in the position to which it can be forced by manual pressure. Since one manipulation of the locking mechanism suffices for a considerable time, it is not necessary that this mechanism should be operable with the same facility as the primary circuit closing mechanism. Even when, as in the case assumed, the primary mechanism is held in one of its positions by the tension of a spring, ease of operation requires that the tension should be so adjusted that the primary circuit-controlling mechanism will require only a slight pressure to move it against the tension of the p i Under these conditions, the pri:

Serial No. 356,661.

mary mechanism is apt to be accidentally displaced from its spring-held position, and it is desirable to provide means which will maintain the position of the contacts in spite of an accidental pressure applied to the primary circuit-controlling mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism which will combine the functions recited above.

Examples of electrical apparatus in which a very readily operable circuitcontrolling mechanism together with means for more stably fixing circuit-controlling elements in certain positions will readily suggest themselves. Electric-niotors driving drills, such as dentists drills, automobile trouble lamps connected to sources of current by extension cords, and switches used in making electrical measurements, in connection with such instruments as voltmeters, ammeters and lVheatstone bridges may be here mentioned, but for the sake of illustration, the switch mechanism of the present invention will be described in connection with a portable self-contained battery hand lamp, of the kind commonly known as flash-lights.

An embodiment of the invention as ap plied to a common form of flash-light is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation. of a flash-light provided with the improved switch, looking down upon the switch.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of the switch as viewed from the interior of the lamp-casing. The lamp-casing is omitted for the sake of clearness.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 but showing the switch in different positions.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a similar section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3 and 1 Fig. 7 is a similar section on line 77 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the push-button of the switch, looking at the bottom of the button.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the push-button.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the member (shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7) forming the external rotatable element of the switch.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the external rotatable member,

Fig. 12 is a fragmental plan view looking down upon the escutcheon plate carrying the switch mechanism.

' Fig. 13 is a plan View looking down .upon

the contact-carrying member of the switch and Fig. 14 is an elevation of the contact-car rying member.

In the embodiment shown. the switch assemblage is applied over an aperture in a fiash-lightc'asing 1. A conductor connects one-terminal o'f the battery with some portion of the switch, such as the escutcheonplate 2.' One terminal of the filament of the incandescent bulb is connected with t'he'other terminal of the battery while the other terminal of the bulb is connected with a contact-strip 3, passing beneath the aperture in the casing 1 and hence beneath the switch. When the'exter'n'alrotatable member 4 of the switchis' in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the spring 5 raises'the push-button 6 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 with the switchout of contact with the strip 3. Pressure upon the push-button 6, exerted by the thumb or finger, will then depress the button and the contact 7 against the tension ofthe spring 5 until the contact 7 bears upon strip 3, when the lamp will be lighted. Upon releasing the push-button, the spring will raise contact 7 off the strip 3, and the light will be extinguished in an obvious manner.

l/Vith the rotatable member 4 in the posi:

tion shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the contact 7 is carried around to a point where it cannot come into contact with strip '3, whether the push-button 6 is in its raised or depressed position. The structure of the switch, as will be hereafter explained, is such thatrotation of the member 4to this position forces the push-button 6 and contact 7 against the tension of the spring 5 to their depressed positions. Nevertheless, the lamp is not lighted and cannot be lighted until the memher 4 is rotated to another position.

hen the rotatable member 4 is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the contact member 7'is on the same side of the aperture in the casing 1 asis the strip 3.. Since rotation to this position likewise forces the push button 6 and contact 7 to their de pressed positions, thelamp is continuously lighted in this position of the switch and cannot b'eextin'guished without rotating the member 4. 1

The structurelof the parts which produce theeffectsabove noted will no-w'be described.

Stamped in the escutcheon plate'2 is a a flat circular portion 10 of the same size as the portion 9 ofplate 2. In the assembled swltch, the disc 10 always rests upon the table 9 The disc 10 has araised portion 11 around its periphery and also a skirt 12 conforming with the conical surface 8. This shirt may be suitably knurled or fluted so" that it may'bereadily turned with the fine ofmeinber 4 will be imparted to push-button s 6 and the contact-carrying member 16 which is rigidly attached thereto, as will be here after explained. The slots 15, however are of greater length than slots '14 so that the member 4, the push-button 6 and the contact-carrying member 16 may all be rotated together through a considerable arc, the ro tation being limited by the sides oftongues 13 reaching the ends of the slots 15 The contact-carrying member 16 is shown? in Figs. 13 and 14 and comprises a disc portion and a contact shoe 7. ilotches 17 are provided in the edge of disc and these are entered by the narrow ends118 ofthe metal. tongues 13 which are integral with push-' button 6. By crimping theend's 18 of the tongues, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the

contact member z push-button 6.

is rigidly attached to the The push-button is fixed against rotation relative to the member 4- but may approach or recede from it, its

travel in this direction being limited by the length of thebroad portions of the metal tongues 13.

The projections 19 on thetabular portion" 9, and the cavities 2O in the contact-carrying member "16. are provided for the purpose of dep'res'singthe contact shoe '7 against strip 3 when the member 4 is rotated to the'position shown in Figs. 3 and 7. In the posi-' tion shown in Figs. 2 and 5,.the-cavities 20' I register with the projections 19, permitting disc 10 to come into contact with table 9, the push-button to rise to its elevated posi tion and the contact shoe 7 to separate from the strip 3. This is the flash position of the switch and the lamp will be lighted only so 1011 as the button is held by the operator in its hepressed position. lation between the cavities 20, the :notches 17 The angular rep in the edge of the member 16 andthe shoe" 7, on the one hand and the projections 19 and slots 15 on'the other hand is such that when the projections and cavities register,

the contact shoe 7 just extends over theedge: of the strip 3 and the metal tongues 13 are centrally'located in the slots.

If the member 4. s new rotated eitherdirect-ion, projections 19 will no longer leg 7 ister with cav1ties'20 and as they move out of registry therewith, theislopi-ng sides of the projections will act as cam-names to force down the member 16 carrying the contact shoe 7. The push-button 6 will of course be drawn down to its depressed position. If the rotation of member 4 was in the proper direction to carry contactshoe 7 over strip 3, the simultaneous depression of the contact shoe will close the circuit and the lamp will burn as long as the member 4 is not moved. If the rotation of member 4 was in the opposite direction, contact shoe 7 will be carried away from strip 3 and the simultaneous depression of contact shoe 7 will be ineffectual to close the circuit.

It will thus be seen that when the member 4 is rotated as far as possible in one direc tion, the lamp will be lighted and can be extinguished only by rotating member 4. In its other extreme position, member 4 is beyond the limits of conductor 8 and it is impossible to light the lamp while the member remains in this position. lVhen member 4 is in its median position, the lamp is lighted by pressing on the puslrbutton and extinguished by releasing it.

As has already been indicated, the application of the switch is not restricted to flashlights. Likewise, the illustrative example of an mbodiment of the invention imposes no restrictions on the scope of the invention, the latter being defined solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable switch mechanism comprising a contact, a fixed conductor below the plane of all portions of said contact, in an intermittently operable position of said switch, means for reciprocating the contact along a path which intersects the fixed conductor, means for positively depressing the contact and holding the same in engagement with the fixed conductor in a closed circuit position, and means for revolving the contact about an axis substantially parallel to its path 01 reciprocation to a position beyond the limits of the fixed conductor, wherein closing of the circuit is prevented.

A switch mechanism comprising a contact, a fixed conductor, means for reciproeating the contact along a path which intersects the fixed conductor, means for revolving the contactabout an axis, and means, ineluding a cam surface, for forcing the contact against the fixed conductor when the contact is revolved.

about an axis to a 3. A switch mechanism comprising a contact reciprocable along a path which intersects a fixed conductor, a spring adapted to normally maintain the contact away from the fixed conductor, means for moving the contact along its path to bring it against the conductor, means for revolving the contact position beyond the limits of the fixed conductor, means for revolving the contact to a second position over the fixed conductor, and means for positively depressing and holding the contact against the fixed conductor when the contact is revolved to said second position.

4. A switch mechanism comprising a contact reciprocabl along a path which intersects a fixed conductor, a spring adapted to normally maintain the contact away from the fixed conductor, means for moving the contact along its path to bring it against the conductor, means for revolving the contact about an axis substantially parallel to its path of reciprocation to a position beyond the limits of the fixed conductor, means for revolving the contact to a second position over the fixed conductor, and means, including a cam surface, for forcing the contact against the fixed conductor when the contact is revolved to said second position.

5. A switch mechanism comprising a push button carrying a contact, a conductor opposed to said contact, said contact having a working face of irregular outline, means for rotating said contact into a plurality of positions, and means for positively depressing said contact in one such position into continuing engagement with the opposed conductor, whereby permanent closure of the circuit is effected.

6. A switch mechanism comprising a conductor, a depressible contact opposed there to, said contact being asymmetrical with re spect to said conductor, means for rotating said contact to a position where its asym1net rical working face will be ineil ective to connect with said conductor when actuation of the switch is to be avoided, or into a position where its asymmetrical working face will be in continuing engagement with said conductor, and means for positively depressing the contact into engagement with the conductor in said last-named position,

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

LEE J. VOOR-HEES.

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