Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Interlocking – Between switches and housing
Patent
1994-05-06
1997-03-11
Stanzione, Patrick J.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Interlocking
Between switches and housing
200 4304, 200 6C, 200 52R, 200335, H01H 928
Patent
active
056103778
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a microswitch having the features recited in the prior art part of claim 1. The basic design of such switch has been described in two variants in "Luegers" Lexikon der Technik, Vol. 14 (1969) on pages 115, 116.
In the known switch a touch pin can be actuated so that a switching fork, which in its position of rest contacts a stationary contact, is moved toward an opposite stationary contact and is urged against the latter. Upon a decrease of the actuating force exerted on the touch pin, the switching fork jumps back to its initial position. In the second variant the switch is changed over by an overcenter spring when its dead center has been overcome. The switching mechanism for both embodiments of the microswitch is disposed in a housing, from which the terminals connected to the contacts protrude and into which the touch pin extends. During the soldering of the terminals, soldering fumes may enter the switch housing at least along the touch pin and may adversely affect the switching system.
A known switch, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,592, comprises a base, which has a cylindrical aperture with an opening which is parallel to the axis of the cylinder. A substantially cylindrical cap has been inserted into the aperture and has a radial extension, which extends out of the aperture. The cap is open toward the base and receives the contact springs of the switch and can be rotated to deflect said contact springs. Particularly because the base and cap must be movable relative to each other there are gaps between the base and cap and soldering fumes and moisture may enter through said gaps.
The invention avoids the obvious attempt to seal in a conventional microswitch the passage in which the touch pin is guided. Instead, it is contemplated to use a switch housing which consists of a base and a cap, which is adapted to be closed by the base. Terminals provided on the base extend out through and are sealed to the base.
The switch can conveniently be handled in a position for use, which is provided in that the cap is pulled from the base out of the closed position. The switch can be actuated in a simple manner in position for use in that the cap is deflected to one side or the other and carries along the contact spring, which protrudes into the cap and is to be actuated, until the spring makes contact. For this reason the cap is not only a means which cooperates with the base to enclose the contact springs on all sides and to hermetically seal them but is also a means for actuating the switch in a very simple manner because the pivoted cap can directly act on the contact spring which is to be deflected without a need for any transmitting members which comprise levers and articulated joints such as are otherwise conventional in microswitches and co-determine and limit their life. In contrast, owing to its simple mechanical structure the switch in accordance with the invention affords considerable advantages as regards life and can be manufactured at lower cost. Besides, the cap does not need to be fixedly connected to the base; because the cap is inherently adjustable between a closed position, in which the cap is not pivotally movable, and a position for use, in which the cap is pivotally movable, the cap can be entirely pulled from the case so that it may be a loose part. This results in the advantage that different bases optionally provided with different sets of contact springs and different caps may be combined for different applications and for installation in different positions so that a family of switches can be provided by a modular system with a minimum expenditure.
In position for use the cap can be pivotally moved, on principle, in both directions and may then deflect one contact spring and the other so that the switch is more versatile in use than known microswitches. Alternatively the switch may optionally be designed to be actuated only in that the cap is pivotally moved in only one direction.
To ensure that the cap can easily be deflected define
REFERENCES:
patent: 4185178 (1980-01-01), Drees
patent: 4359611 (1982-11-01), Haskins
patent: 4575592 (1986-03-01), Rose
patent: 5196657 (1993-03-01), Jensen
Doduco GmbH+Co.
Durrwachter Eugen
Friedhofer Michael A.
Stanzione Patrick J.
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