Heavy duty push-button electrical switch

An electrical switch,

• comprising a casing,
• at least two contact points mounted in said casing,
• a contactor movable in said casing into and out of engagement with said contact points,
• said contactor being effective to complete an electrical circuit between said contact points when said contactor engages said contact points,
• said contact points being made of a metal material composed predominantly of silver,
• said contactor having a surface portion engageable with said contact points,
• said contactor being rotatable by vibration and other environmental factors so as to present fresh surface elements to said contact points during repeated cycles of use,
• whereby the transfer of silver in both directions between said contactor and said contact points tends to be equalized over an extended period of use,
• and a backstop in said casing and engageable by said contactor when said contactor is moved away from said contact points, said backstop preventing rotation of said contactor,
• said contactor being prevented from rotating when engaged with said contact points,
• said contactor being freely rotatable when in transit between said contact points and said backstop.

An electrical switch,

• comprising a casing,
• at least two contact points mounted in said casing,
• a carriage member mounted in said casing for linear movement,
• a conductive contactor mounted on said carriage member for free rotation relative thereto,
• said contactor being movable with said carriage member into and out of engagement with said contact points,
• said contactor being effective to complete an electrical circuit between said contact points when said contactor engages said contact points,
• said contact points being made of a metal material composed predominantly of silver,
• and spring means acting between said carriage member and said casing for biasing said carriage member in one direction of its linear movement,
• said spring means being out of engagement with said contactor so that said contactor is freely rotatable by vibration and other environmental factors so as to present fresh surface elements to said contact points during repeated cycles of use,
• whereby the transfer of silver in both directions between said contactor and said contact points tends to be equalized over an extended period of use.

An electrical switch,

• comprising a casing,
• a carriage member mounted in said casing for linear movement,
• a conductive contactor mounted on said carriage member for free rotation relative thereto,
• at least two conductive contacts mounted in said casing on one side of said contactor for engagement by said contactor to complete an electrical circuit between said contacts,
• a stop in said casing on the opposite side of said contactor from said contacts and engageable by said contactor when said contactor is moved away from said contacts,
• spring means acting between said carriage member and said casing for biasing said carriage member in one direction of said linear movement,
• the engagement between said stop and said contactor being effective to prevent rotation of said contactor,
• the engagement between said contactor and said contacts also being effective to prevent rotation of said contactor,
• said contactor being freely rotatable when in transit between said contacts and said stop,
• whereby vibration and other environmental factors cause said contactor to rotate relative to said carriage member so that said contactor presents fresh surface elements to said contacts during repeated cycles of use.