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US 4,061,895 AGranted
Higher rated double-pole trigger switch
AssigneeCutler-Hammer, Inc.
InventorHarold W. Hults
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multipurpose electric trigger switch adapted to be mounted in the handle of a portable electric tool for controlling the A. C. power circuit and, to afford a higher rating, the switch is provided with double-pole butt contacts. A movable contactor is pivoted and translated on a resilient terminal into wiping and abutting contact with a stationary terminal in response to linear sliding movement of an operator having a cam which engages inclined camming surfaces on the contactor.
Claims23
A double-pole tool handle switch comprising:
- an electrically insulating housing;
- a pair of stationary contacts mounted in said housing;
- a pair of identical adjacent contactors each having:
- (1) a middle portion mounting the same to said housing for pivotal and vertical movement therein;
- (2) a lower portion carrying a movable contact for engaging the respective stationary contact in one direction of pivoting of said contactor and for disengaging said respective stationary contact in another direction of pivoting of said contactor;
- and (3) an upper portion having a pair of oppositely inclined camming surfaces forming an apex at their junction;
- limiting means in said housing limiting the pivoting of each contactor in said other direction;
- a pair of resilient cantilever terminals in electrical engagement with respective contactors, each terminal having one end mounted to said housing and the other end biasing the respective contactor upwardly;
- an operator slidably mounted to said housing;
- cam means slidably mounted to said operator for limited motion therealong between first and second limited positions relative thereto and arranged to engage said camming surfaces of said contactors;
- and
- stop means in said housing for limiting the movement of said cam means relative thereto between forward and rearward positions such that said cam means is continuously in engagement with camming surfaces of said contactors to stop the upward movement thereof thereby effecting a torque on said contactors about said middle portions;
- such that during operation of said operator said cam means slides along said operator to said first limited position, after which said cam means is carried by said operator and slides across one of said inclined surfaces of each contactor causing downward movement of said contactors until said cam crosses said apex of each contactor, after which a reverse torque pivots the contactors to close said contacts and the contactors move upwardly as said cam means slides across the other of said inclined surfaces of each contactor to provide contact wiping, said cam means simultaneously sliding along said operator to said rearward position relative to said housing, and such that during return operation of said operator said cam means slides along said operator to said second limited position, after which said cam means is carried by said operator and slides across said other of said inclined surfaces of each contactor causing downward movement of said contactors to shear any welds formed between said contacts until said cam means crosses said apex of each contactor, after which said contactors pivot to open said contacts and move upwardly as said cam means slides across said one of said inclined surfaces of each contactor, said cam means simultaneously sliding along said operator to said forward position relative to said housing.
10 more elements
An electric switch comprising:
- an electrically insulating housing;
- a stationary contact mounted in said housing;
- a contactor having:
- (1) a middle portion mounting the same to said housing for pivotal and vertical movement therein;
- (2) a lower portion carrying a movable contact for buttingly engaging said stationary contact in one direction of pivoting of said contactor and for disengaging said stationary contact in another direction of pivoting of said contactor, said vertical movement of said contactor providing wiping action between said contacts when engaged;
- and (3) an upper portion having inclined camming surfaces meeting at the top of said upper portion;
- limiting means in said housing limiting the pivoting of said contactor in said other direction;
- biasing means in said housing biasing said contactor upwardly;
- operator means movably mounted to said housing and having a cam traversible across said top of said upper portion of said contactor and engaging said camming surfaces to stop the upwardly biased movement of said contactor to effect a torque on said contactor about said middle portion due to the upward bias of said biasing means;
- such that in response to movement of said operator means said cam slides along one of said inclined camming surfaces towards said top causing downward movement of said contactor until said cam crosses said top, after which said torque is reversed to pivot said contactor in said one direction to close said contacts in butting engagement and said contactor moves upwardly under the bias of said biasing means as said cam slides along another of said inclined camming surfaces away from said top to thereby provide wiping of said contacts;
- and
- such that in response to return movement of said operator means said cam slides along said other inclined camming surface towards said top causing downward movement of said contactor to shear welds formed between said contacts until said cam crosses said top, after which said torque is again reversed to pivot said contactor in said other direction to open said contacts and said contactor moves upwardly under the bias of said biasing means as said cam slides along said one inclined camming surface away from said top.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.