Two-stage snap-action switch
AssigneeAllen-Bradley Company, Inc.
InventorEdward H. Kuhn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snap-action mechanism for an electrical switch, such as a pushbutton, which has an operator for reciprocally moving an overcenter operated contact by means of a drive toggle actuated mechanism to provide positive actuation of the contact through lost motion connection between the various operating members. The mechanism combines the antitease action of a snap switch with the opening ability of a directly operated slow action switch. The application of the direct opening force is not dependent on any springs and occurs in both directions of travel of the switch actuator.
Claims8
In a snap-action mechanism for an electrical switch including a reciprocally operated movable contact member operated by an overcenter spring means that has one end that acts upon the movable contact member and urges said contact member toward one of two positions depending upon which side of center said spring means resides, the combination therewith of:
- a housing for said movable contact member and said overcenter spring means, and comprising stationary toggle mechanism support means and stationary operator guide means;
- a movable actuator that reciprocates in a stroke between two positions;
- means for biasing said actuator toward one of said positions;
- a reciprocally movable operator in said housing guided by said operator guide means and having a lost motion connection with said actuator and with said overcenter spring means;
- driving toggle spring mechanism for said operator interposed between said operator and said stationary toggle support means, the said driving toggle means having a relatively greater toggle spring force than the spring force of said overcenter spring means for said movable contact member.
In a snap-action mechanism for an electrical switch including a reciprocally operated movable contact member comprising a contact spanner support said movable contact member at a distal end thereof and operated by an overcenter spring means that has one end that acts upon the spanner movable contact member to urge said contact member toward one of two positions depending upon which side of center said spring means resides, the combination therewith of:
- a housing for said movable contact member and said overcenter spring means, and comprising stationary support means for said overcenter spring means and stationary operator guide means;
- a movable actuator that reciprocates in a stroke between two positions;
- means for biasing said actuator toward one of said positions;
- a reciprocally movable operator in said housing guided by said operator guide means and having a lost motion connection with said actuator and with said overcenter spring means, said operator having an apertured sidewall arranged to receive the contact spanner and to directly connect with the spanner for operation of the movable contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.