US 4,258,349 AGranted

Double-pole rocker switch with thermal protection

AssigneeWeber AG Fabrik Elektrotechnischer Artikel und Apparate

InventorJosef Flory

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Abstract

A double-pole rocker switch with thermal overload protection is constructed as a fully functional sub-assembly which may be tested and adjusted prior to insertion in a tubular housing. The sub-assembly is held in the housing by releasable locks for subsequent servicing. All component elements of the switch are carried on the sub-assembly, including all electrical contacts. In particular, the sub-assembly has a base in which two pairs of electrical contacts are fixedly disposed, each pair being contacted by a spring-loaded contact bridge in one position of the rocker. This position can be attained, however, only if a movable contact block is held at one end by a fulcrum provided by a latch. The latch pivots in a V-shaped groove and may be removed from engagement with the contact block by a bimetallic strip under conditions of overload. In that condition, even deliberate actuation of the rocker cannot result in a closure of the switch because of the absence of the fulcrum.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A double-pole rocker switch with thermal overload protection, of flat parallelepiped form, including a toggle at one narrow end thereof and electrical contact members at the other narrow end thereof and further including a pivotable spring-loaded contact block coupled pivotably to said rocker via a toggle mechanism, said contact block supporting at the end remote from said toggle mechanism two movable contact elements which cooperate with stationary contact elements, said contact block being lockable by a pivotable latch which is displaceable by a bimetallic element and wherein, according to the invention, said switch comprises a unitary tubular housing (1;61) of approximately rectangular cross-section surrounding a slidably insertable singlepiece slide assembly (4;62) including an insulated subdivided base member (5;63) which supports external electrical contacts (12,12',20,21) and internal electrical contacts (18,22,19,23) and which further supports a spring (44) which loads said springloaded contact block (26;70) and defining a pivotal bearing (52) for said pivotable latch (47), said base member (5;63) having at least one carrier wall (6,7;64) for supporting said rocker (27;65) and for guiding a pin member (34;75) forming part of said toggle mechanism, said pin member (34;75) being longitudinally displaceable in said carrier wall (7;64) and pivotally supporting said contact block (26;70).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.