Snap action switch
AssigneeElectroswitch Corporation
InventorAlexander MacLean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snap action switch apparatus includes a snap action element that couples a handle to a switch contact apparatus having movable switch contacts so movement of the handle causes movement of the switch contacts. The snap action element may include two rotatably mounted arms that are coupled by a resilient member. One or more plates may shield the resilient member from one or more of the arms, e.g., to prevent mechanical interference during switch operation. The handle and movable contacts may have different ranges of motion, such as 90 degrees and 45 degrees, respectively, to provide verifiable and fast acting switching. The plates or other elements may provide an auxiliary bearing surface for the arms to provide more reliable operation.
Claims41
A switching apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a handle end and a switch end;
- a handle drive arm rotatably mounted at the handle end of the housing so that the handle drive arm has a range of rotary motion;
- a switch drive arm rotatably mounted at the switch end of the housing so that the switch drive arm has a range of rotary motion;
- and
- a resilient member interconnecting the handle drive arm and the switch drive arm so that rotation of the handle drive arm causes a snap rotation of the switch drive arm;
- wherein the resilient member is shielded from at least one of the handle drive arm and the switch drive arm during rotation of the handle drive arm.
A switch apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a handle end and a switch end;
- a handle drive arm rotatably mounted at the handle end of the housing;
- a switch drive arm rotatably mounted at the switch end of the housing;
- a spring interconnecting the handle drive arm and the switch drive arm so that rotation of the handle drive arm causes a snap rotation of the switch drive arm;
- and
- a plate mounted between the spring and one of the handle drive arm and the switch drive arm.
A switch apparatus comprising:
- a handle;
- an electrical contact apparatus having at least one movable switch contact;
- and
- a snap action element that transmits rotary motion of the handle to the electrical switch contact apparatus so that rotation of the handle causes movement of a movable switch contact in the electrical contact apparatus, the snap action element comprising:
- a first end plate,
- a handle arm stop plate having a recess and being fixed relative to the first end plate,
- a handle drive arm rotatably mounted at a first end to the handle arm stop plate and positioned at least partially in the recess in the handle arm stop plate,
- a second end plate fixed relative to the first end plate,
- a switch arm stop plate having a recess and being fixed relative to the second end plate,
- a switch drive arm rotatably mounted at a first end to the switch arm stop plate and positioned at least partially in the recess in the switch arm stop plate, and
- a spring connected at second ends of the handle drive arm and the switch drive arm opposite the first ends so that rotation of the handle drive arm causes snap rotation of the switch drive arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.