Electric switch

An electric switch with an adjustable switch point comprising:

• at least one fixed contact arranged on a contact carrier;
• a moveable contact tongue being moveable from a first position to a second position;
• a moveable actuating member with a switching lever, said actuating member operatively connected to the contact tongue;
• a carrier with a curved protuberance;
• a housing of the switch with a transparent window;
• a knife-edge bearing for receiving the contact tongue, said knife-edge bearing arranged on the carrier,
• wherein at least one of the bearing, the contact tongue, the fixed contact and the switching lever are shifted in a direction of movement of the actuating member and set by thermal deformation for adjusting the switch point.

A method for adjusting a small-scale electric microswitch or quick-action switch having a contact system with at least one fixed contact arranged on a contact carrier, a movable contact tongue, and a movable actuating member operatively connected to the contact tongue for changing over the contact system, wherein said contact tongue has a bearing arranged on a carrier, said bearing being designed in the manner of a knife-edge bearing, and wherein for adjustment of a switch point, part of the contact system is shifted in a direction of movement of the actuating member, in that at least one of the fixed contact and the contact tongue is set, wherein a carrier part makes the electric connection between an electric terminal and the bearing and includes a first portion which runs transverse to the direction of movement of the actuating member and a second adjoining portion running in the direction of movement of the actuating member, the first and second portions forming, on the carrier for the bearing, a protuberance shaped substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the actuating member, and the protuberance is designed to be U-shaped, half-S-shaped, in the form of a question mark, or S-shaped, the method comprising:

• adjusting the switch point of a small-scale electric microswitch or quick-action switch by introducing a permanent mechanical deformation on the carrier receiving the bearing.

An electric switch with an adjustable switch point comprising:

• at least one fixed contact arranged on a contact carrier;
• a moveable contact tongue being moveable from a first position to a second position;
• a moveable actuating member with a switching lever, said actuating member operatively connected to the contact tongue;
• a carrier with a first portion which extends substantially transverse to a direction of movement of the actuating member and a second, adjoining portion which extends substantially in the direction of movement of the actuating member, said first and second portions forming a curved protuberance;
• and
• a knife-edge bearing for receiving the contact tongue, said knife-edge bearing arranged on the carrier,
• wherein at least one of the bearing, the contact tongue, the fixed contact and the switching lever are shifted in the direction of movement of the actuating member and set by plastic deformation for adjusting the switch point.

A method for adjusting a switch point of an electric switch including at least one fixed contact arranged on a contact carrier, a moveable contact tongue being moveable from a first position to a second position, a moveable actuating member with a switching lever, said actuating member operatively connected to the contact tongue, a carrier with a first portion which runs substantially transverse to a direction of movement of the actuating member and a second, adjoining portion running substantially in the direction of movement of the actuating member, said first and second portions forming a curved protuberance and a knife-edge bearing for receiving the contact tongue, said knife-edge bearing arranged on the carrier, said method comprising steps of:

• inserting a wedge-shaped tool into the protuberance;
• placing a further tool with a supporting surface bearing on the second portion of the carrier;
• and
• displacing the wedge-shaped tool transversely in a direction of movement of the actuating member, thereby widening the protuberance and setting the bearing.