Double pole contact operating mechanism
OwnerSpencer C. Schantzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A double pole double throw relay has two flexible electrically conductive contact arms which each carry an electrical contact positioned to engage cooperating contacts. Contact closing pressure is simultaneously applied to both contact arms by a yoke made of electrical insulating material which extends transversely of the arms and is pivotally connected midway of its length to an actuator which is positioned between the contact arms and is movable toward and away from the arms. The pivotal mounting of the yoke tends to equalize the contact closing pressure. In one embodiment, the yoke is supported by yielding means to provide a degree of overtravel which maintains pressure and compensates for contact erosion and water.
Claims13
In an electrical device having two flexible electrically conductive contact arms, each having a contact portion, said device having cooperating electrical contacts, and there being means for applying pressure to said arms to move the contact portions into closing engagement with said cooperating contacts, the improvement wherein said means for applying said pressure includes a movably mounted actuator mounted on said device reciprocably movable in a direction transversely of said contact arms and toward and away from said arms, and having an end portion movable toward said arms, and a yoke of electrical insulating material having a pivotal connection intermediate its ends with said actuator, said yoke extending transversely of said arms and being long enough to contact both arms and apply contact closing pressure thereto when said actuator is moved a predetermined distance toward said arms, said pivotal connection of said yoke tending to equalize contact closing pressure.
In a switch for controlling an electric circuit, which switch includes:
- a pair of fixed contact members in said circuit, a pair of flexible electrically conductive contact arms in said circuit each having a contact portion positioned for cooperation with said fixed contact members, an electromagnet, an armature supported for movement toward and away from said electromagnet, a spring connected with said armature normally biasing said armature toward a release position with respect to the electromagnet, a manually operable plunger supported for movement adjacent said armature, an actuator suported on said plunger for limited movement in an axial direction relative thereto, means between said plunger, armature and actuator for causing conjoint movement in response to initial pressure on the plunger, said actuator having a pressure end for causing movement of the flexible contact arms into engagement with the fixed contact members to complete the electric circuit and also energize the electromagnet in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the actuator whereby the armature is magnetically moved the rest of the way toward the electromagnet independently of plunger pressure, and means between the armature and actuator for maintaining the contact members in closed condition as long as the electromagnet is energized, the improvement wherein said pressure end of the actuator includes a yoke of electrical insulating material pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said actuator, said yoke extending transversely of said flexible contact arms and being long enough to contact both arms and apply contact closing pressure thereto when said actuator is moved a predetermined distance toward said arms, said pivotal connection of said yoke tending to equalize contact closing pressure on the pair off fixed contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.