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US 4,213,108 AGranted
Switch structure having parts embedded in plastic
OwnerHarry R. Grossinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerHarry R. Grossinventor
Estimating the term…
A solenoid and electric terminal heads are embedded in plastic by injection molding. Die faces accurately position and orient contact surfaces on the heads relative to the solenoid and contacts on the solenoid plunger, eliminating subsequent machining. The solenoid windings and lead wires are encapsulated by plastic injected in the molding process through openings in the coil casing. Portions of the lead wires outside of the casing and contact posts connected thereto are also embedded in the plastic. Injection molded walls guide axial movement of a rectangular contact member with the plunger and prevent its rotation out of alignment with the terminal heads. A fibrous washer compresses axially under the die force to compensate for cumulative axial tolerances of the solenoid and terminal heads for accurately positioning the bottom of the plunger opening relative to the contact surfaces on the terminal heads. Engagement of the plastic with the terminals and contact posts provides moisture-proof seals which cooperate with a plastic cap welded to the molded plastic to provide a moisture-proof housing.
Switch structure which comprises,
In a solenoid switch of the type having a housing made of molded plastic or the like, a solenoid unit fastened in said housing and having a coil therein with an axial opening therethrough, a lead wire on said coil, a terminal post electrically connected to said lead wire and secured to said housing, a pair of main contacts secured to said housing and a contact plunger having a contact plate and a plunger portion, said plunger portion being axially movable in said opening of said coil so that when the solenoid is actuated said contact plate makes an electrical connection between said main contacts, that improvement wherein said solenoid unit and said main contacts are so embedded in plastic integrally molded with said molded plastic housing that the embedding plastic forms anchor means effective of itself to rigidly secure said solenoid unit and said main contacts on said housing.
In a solenoid switch of the type having a housing made of molded plastic or the like, a solenoid unit fastened in said housing and having a coil therein with an axial opening therethrough, a lead wire on said coil, a terminal post electrically connected to said lead wire and secured to said housing, a pair of main contacts secured to said housing and a contact plunger having a contact plate and a plunger portion, said plunger portion being axially movable in said opening of said coil so that when the solenoid is actuated said contact plate makes an electrical connection between said main contacts, that improvement wherein said solenoid unit and said main contacts are at least partially embedded in plastic integrally molded with said molded plastic housing so as to rigidly secure said solenoid unit and said main contacts on said housing, said solenoid unit including an axially walled casing open at one end thereof, said main electrical contacts being in alignment axially of said casing with said axial walls thereof and being spaced from said open end of said casing, and deformable means located in the axial space between said axial wall and said contacts and being compressed in a direction axially of said casing in those areas that are in alignment with said casing and said main contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.