Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Contact
Patent
1998-06-26
2000-02-29
Scott, J. R.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Contact
200 16C, 200 16D, 200550, H01H 160, H01H 1502
Patent
active
060311940
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a slide switch to close a current feed circuit to a load by connecting a ground terminal to a power source terminal by means of a movable contact, which is slidable.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
Arcs are generated when the switch is operated. At this time, foreign particles, e.g., metallic dust and carbide particles, are produced and scattered. An arc gap is formed at the power source terminal of the arc generating side to receive the foreign particles.
The foreign particles are scattered and also adhere to the ground terminal as a common terminal. No measure is taken for the foreign particles in the ground terminal side. The movable contact slides on the ground terminal while pressing the foreign particles against the ground terminal, and the ground terminal is worn. As a result, the switch may develop a poor contact and a drop, and smooth operation of the switch is impaired.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved slide switch such that the foreign particles adhering to the ground terminal as the common terminal can be automatically discharged.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above object, a slide switch is provided to close a current feed circuit to a load by connecting a ground terminal to a power source terminal by means of a movable contact, which is slidable. The improvement being characterized by a discharge hole that is formed in said ground terminal to be in contact with said movable contact when said movable contact slides, and metallic particles, carbide particles and the like, which are produced by arcs generated at the time of switching and adhere to said ground terminal, are put into said discharge hole through the sliding motion of said movable contact.
With such a construction, foreign particles, e.g., metallic particles and carbide particles, which are produced by the arcs and scattered and adhere onto the ground terminal, are gathered through the sliding motion of the movable contact, and the gathered ones drop into the discharge hole, whereby the foreign particles are removed from the ground terminal. Therefore, the foreign particles are not put between the movable contact and the ground terminal, and the ground terminal is worn every sliding motion of the movable contact. In this respect, the durability of the slide switch is improved. A contact state between the movable contact and the ground terminal is stable. No voltage drop occurs. Further, smooth operation of the switch is ensured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a slide switch 1.
FIG. 2 is a table showing interconnections of the terminals in the slide switch.
FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a slide switch 11.
FIG. 4 is a table showing interconnections of the terminals in the slide switch.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a slide switch 1 which an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a table showing interconnections of the terminals in the slide switch 1. As shown, a strip-shaped ground terminal 3 as a common terminal is provided on an insulator 2 of the slide switch 1. A (+B1) terminal 5 and a (+B2) terminal 6 as power source terminals are arrayed, while being spaced from and along with the ground terminal 3, at the locations corresponding to the stroke ends S1 and S2 of a stroke of a movable contact 4. The movable contact 4, which is urged by a spring (not shown), slides to bring its contacts 4a and 4b respectively into contact with the ground terminal 3 and the (+B1) terminal 5, and with the ground terminal 3 and the (+B2) terminal 6. In other words, the movable contact 4 bridges the gap between the ground terminal 3 and the (+B1) terminal 5, and the gap between the ground terminal 3 and the (+B2) terminal 6.
A mid position of the ground terminal 3 that is located between the stroke ends S1
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patent: 3531799 (1970-09-01), Rendler
patent: 3805200 (1974-04-01), Suzuki
patent: 4518834 (1985-05-01), Paranicas
patent: 4677425 (1987-06-01), Singleton
patent: 5672854 (1997-09-01), Nishio
patent: 5708240 (1998-01-01), Akimoto et al.
patent: 5783785 (1998-07-01), Furukawa
patent: 5898142 (1999-04-01), Ohtaki et al.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
Scott J. R.
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