Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Snap – Double snap
Patent
1988-10-14
1992-01-21
Recla, Henry J.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Snap
Double snap
200453, 200461, 200456, 200460, H01H 518, H01H 506
Patent
active
050829971
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGRUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to miniature quick-break switches. They comprise, inside a moulded plastic material case, a rocking blade mechanism actuated by an external push-button, this blade, pivoting on a common terminal, ensures the electric continuity alternately between the common terminal and two separate terminals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The operating principles of such apparatus are well known and described in numerous patents. The following French patents may be cited by way of example: 1 182 508, 2 072 376, 2 472 827 and 2 531 262.
Their use as components of automatic devices must satisfy the approval conditions of international standards, and in particular: interchangeability, electric insulation, reliability, absence of balance point, low operating force, high cut-off power.
Since the development of the market has led to fierce competition, manufactures have been led to design products at the lowest cost price. For that, these products must comprise a minimum number of parts whose shapes must be compatible with automated manufacturing, assembly and control equipment.
One of the mechanisms among the most simple is described in the French patent 1 182 508 applied for on Sept. 30, 1957. Its priciple, which has served as the basis for several types of product, manufactured at the present time in very large numbers, shown in FIGS. 1-4.
This prior art device comprises a resilient mobile blade 18, FIG. 3, hinged in notches 12, 13 formed on each side in the common terminal 14, FIG. 1. The position of these notches and the length of the arms 15 and 16 of blade 18 define a resilient deformation of these arms, thus creating reaction forces on terminal 10. A spring 19, placed under blade 18, opposes the movement of the push-button 9; FIG. 2 shows that movement of the push-button downwards causes the mobile contact 8 to pass quickly from terminal 10 to 11, when the arms 17 of blade 18 pass beyond notch 12. The electric continuity is then provided between the common terminal 14 and terminal 11. The contact force of contact 8 is then a resultant of the tension of arms 15 and 16 of the mobile blade.
The action force F on the push-button as a function of its travel C is usually represented by a diagram. FIG. 4 shows the diagram corresponding to the type of switch shown in FIGS. 1-3. The action force on the push-button increases from paint 20 to rocking point 21 of the mobile blade when arms 17 pass beyond notch 12, and the mobile contact 8 passes suddenly from terminal 10 to 11. The action force drops at point 22, for it is reduced by the force necessary for the tension of arm 16. From paint 22 to 23 the action force again increases smoothly, until spring 19 is totally compressed as shown in FIG. 2. In the return movement, the procedure is reversed, from paint 23 to 24 the action force decreases; when arms 17 pass beyond notch 12 the contact 8 passes quickly from terminal 11 to 10. The action force is increased at paint 25 by the tension of arm 16 and then decreases again as far as paint 20. In this graphic representation, the movement from paint 20 to 27 is usually called the approach stroke, from paint 27 to 26 the after stroke and from paint 27 to 28 the differential stroke. This diagram shows a relatively large increase in the action force, which is not favorable for sensitive switches for which a low operating force is desirable. In addition, any appreciable variation of the control forces results in an increased fatigue of the mechanical members, and so a reduction of the lifespan of the product.
The great variety of industrial applications of this type of product requires a large flexibility of adaptation. Its characteristics will have to be able to vary in large proportions.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a quick-break switch having a large capacity of adaptation, a relatively constant operating force, a low manufacturing cost, a limited number of parts particularly adapted to automated manufactured an
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Kupferschmid Keith
Recla Henry J.
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