US2441634A - Rotary operated reciprocating switch - Google Patents

Description

May 18, 1948. J. HORMAN 2,441,634-

ROTARY OPERATED RECIPROCATING SWITCH Filed May 50, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iinw is;

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' ATTORNEYS May 18, 1948. J. H. HORMAN I ROTARY OPERATED RECIPROCATING SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 30, 1945 NVENTOR. wa 64 BY I ATTO/P/Vf Y5 Potontod May 18, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY OPERATED BECIPROCATING SWITCH Application May 80, 1945, Serial No. 596,787

5 Claims. (Cl. 200-453) This invention relates to relays.

An object of this invention is an improved contact mounting by means of which two sets of contacts may be brought simultaneously into engagement with the same pressure applied between co-operating pairs of contacts.

'In a relay embodying this invention, a set of fixed contacts are symmetrically arranged with respect to a rotatable shaft forming part of a magnetic motor. An insulating carrier has a bore through which the shaft extends and is provided with a set of contacts complementary to the set of fixed contacts. Means are provided for preventing rotation of the carrier and the carrier bore is slightly lar er than the shaft diameter so that it is capable of slight tilting relative to the shaft axis. (Jo-operating means are provided on the shaft and carrier for effecting movement of the carrier axially of the shaft upon rotation of the shaft. Such movement of the carrier brings its contacts into engagement with the fixed contacts and the operating pressure is distributed uniformly to the co-operating pairs of contacts irrespective of whether the plane of the fixed contacts is exactly perpendicular to the shaft axis. The carrier tilts to compensate for any, deviation of the fixed contact plane from perpendicular relation to the shaft axis.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig, 1 is a front elevation of a relay embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 8-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 partially in section;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line I'! of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a part of the switch mechanism.

A magnetic metal frame it of U-shape is supported by a base II and the ends of the U legs are turned inwardly to form pole pieces l2 having concave faces [2a. A magnetic metal core II is supported within the frame l0 and is surrounded by a coil l4. A shaft I! of non-magnetic metal is journalled in the core I8 and projects a considerable distance beyond the upper surfaces of the pole pieces 1 2. The shaft I I has fixed thereto an armature It arranged in the gap between the faces l2a of the pole pieces l2 and 2 having surfaces complementary to the surfaces l2a. Springs Ila bias the armature it and shaft ll counterclockwise.

A saddle ll of non-magnetic metal is attached to the frame I. by bolts Ila and spans the upper end of the frame II with an opening therethrough receiving the shaft it which is provided with a collar Ila underlying the saddle. An annulus ll of insulating material rests on the saddle If in surrounding relation to the shaft II and is attached to the saddle by screws it. A plurality of metal posts 20 are supported by the annulus It in parallelism with the shaft II. The posts 20 pass through two insulating material annuli 2i and 22 with the annulus 2| being spaced from the annulus It by separators 22 and the annulus 22 being spaced from the annulus 2| by separators 24. Nuts I! screwed Onto the ends of the posts 20 retain the annuli and spacers in assembled relation. The annulus 2i carries three equally spaced contacts 28 and the annulus 22 also carries three uniformly spaced contacts 21 arranged in alinement with the contacts 28. Terminal members 2! and 29 are provided'for the contacts 26 and 21 respectively.

A carrier II has a bore 3| through which the shaft II extends, the bore 2| being of somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of the shaft. The carrier I0 is biased toward a collar 32 on the shaft I! by a helical spring 33 arranged between the carrier 30 and the saddle If. A hub 34 fits over the upper end of the shaft II with its lower surface contacting the upper surface of the collar 32 and preferably, the bore of the hub 34 as well as that portion of the shaft ll within the hub are of complementary shape other than circular to insure unitary rotation of the hub with the shaft. A nut ll threaded onto the end of the shaft l5 retains the hub 34 on the shaft ii.

The hub 34 is provided with two rollers it having their axes arranged radially of the shaft l4 and arranged beyond the hub periphery. The carrier 8| is provided with a pair of arcuate flanges 21 coaxial with the shaft II and having oblique portions 20. Also, the carrier II is provided at its bottom surface with a plurality of contacts II in alinement with the contacts 28 and at its upper surface with a plurality of contacts 4| in alinement with the contacts 21. Terminals "a and 401: are provided for the contacts I! and 40 respectively. Notches 4| are provided in the periphery of the carrier II to receive the separators 24 which act to prevent rotation of the carrier II while permitting movement there- 3 of axially of the shaft l8. Rotation of the shaft ll through an arc of less than 90 causes the rollers 30 to traverse the surfaces 32 thereby causing movement of the'carrier 30 axially of the shaft I! either against the action of the spring 38 or under theinfluence of said spring.

The arrangement of the armature l8 on the shaft l relative to the rollers 38 is such that with the coil l4 energized and the armature in the position shown in Fig. 7, the rollers 28 engage high points of the surfaces 38 so that the carrier 30 is drawn toward the annulus 2| to bring the contacts 39 into engagement with the contacts 26. Upon de-energization of the coil H, the spring 23 lifts the carrier 30 toward the annulus 22 to bring the contacts 40 into engagement with the contacts 2! and the shaft l5 and armature l6 are rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 7 by movement of the rollers 35 to low points on the surfaces 38 and by the springs Ilia. Upward movement of the shaft I5 is prevented by the collar l5a on the shaft engaging the saddle l1.

Firm engagement of either set of three contacts of the carrier 30 with the contacts of either annulus 2| or 22 is insured by the arrangement above described. In the event that either the contacts 26 or 21 do not lie in a, plane perpendicular to the shaft IS, the carrier is capable of sufficient tilt on the shaft to effect engagement of all three pairs of contacts with the same pressure applied to each pair.

It is of course understood that various modifications may be made in the structure above described without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, a pair of radial studs carried by said shaft, a carrier having a bore through which said shaft extends, means preventing rotation of said carrier while permittin movement of said carrier axially of said shaft, a pair of arcuate inclined surfaces on said carrier engaging said studs, means biasing said carrier toward said studs, a first set of contacts mounted on said carrier, and a second set of contacts supported in fixed relation for engagement by said carrier contacts.

2. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, a carrier having a bore through which said shaft extends, means preventing rotation of said carrier whi-le permitting movement of said carrier axially of said shaft. means for effecting axial movement of said carrier upon rotation of said shaft, a first set of contacts mounted on said carrier, a second set of contacts supported in fixed position for engagement by said carrier contacts.

3. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, a pair of radial studs carried by said shaft, a plurality of posts parallel to said shaft, a carrier having a bore receivins said shaft and notches receiving said posts. a pair of arcuate inclined surfaces on said carrier engaging said studs, means biasing said carrier surfaces toward said studs, a first set of contacts mounted on said carrier, and a second set of contacts supported in fixed relation for engagement by said carrier contacts.

4. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of posts parallel to said shaft, a carrier having a bore receiving said shaft and notches receiving said posts, means for effecting axial movement of said carrier upon rotation of said shaft, a first set of contacts mounted on said carrier, a second set of contacts supported in fixed position for engagement by said carrier contacts.

5. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of posts parallel to said shaft, a carrier having a bore through which said shaft extends and notches receiving said posts, a first set of contacts supported by said carrier, a second set of contacts supported in fixed position for engagement by REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 983,976 Carpenter Feb. 14, 1911 1,736,528 Gay Nov. 19, 1929 2,041,900 Carle May 26, 1936 2,106,581 Unwin Jan. 25, 1938

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