Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Contact
Patent
1999-07-27
2000-05-16
Gellner, Michael L.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Contact
H01H 122
Patent
active
060640170
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switch having a contact lever into which a joint bearing can be easily inserted and movable therein.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Conventional switches have a contact lever prestressed by means of a compression member. The compression member is configured like a connecting rod and at one end, bears a fork embracing the contact lever. A pivot which is accommodated by a hole in the contact lever is attached to the prongs of the fork. The pivot is abutted in a bearing ring fashioned more or less centrally in the hole accommodating the joint. For this purpose, the segment of the contact lever in the region of the hole accommodating the joint is of a box-shaped configuration. The bearing ring is inserted from one side into a box-shaped accommodating segment configured in the contact lever and provided with a first hole and then fixed in the accommodating segment with a cover having a second hole such that the bearing ring is aligned with the first and the second hole. Installation of the bearing ring serving as the joint bearing thus requires a bipartite bearing housing of complicated fabrication.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It would be desirable to provide a switch in which the joint bearing abutting the compression member in the contact lever can be installed in the contact lever in a simple and dependable manner.
According to presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a switch having a contact lever and a compression member connected so as to bias the contact lever into a contact position. The contact lever includes a joint-receiving opening. The joint-receiving opening is configured as a key-shaped, oblong hole with two round portions of unlike diameter extending in the direction of compression of the compression member. The opening portion having the smaller diameter includes a groove in the periphery thereof. A bearing ring which is previously thrust into the opening portion having the larger diameter can be moved into the opening portion having the smaller diameter.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the switch, in an open condition.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the switch in a closed condition.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the switch as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1, wherein the joint-receiving opening has been exposed by removing the contact lever segment above a section line passing through the joint-receiving opening.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compression member shown in FIG. 1, together with the corresponding segment of the contact lever in which the joint-receiving opening is located, wherein the position of the fork on the contact lever is shown.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the compression member and contact lever where the position of the joint bearing accommodating the pivot is shown.
FIG. 6. is a perspective view of the installation of the joint bearing in the contact lever.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view wherein the joint bearing is located within the first opening portion of the joint-receiving opening.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view wherein the joint bearing is located within the second opening portion of the joint-receiving opening.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the contact lever transverse to the centerlines of the holes of the joint-receiving opening.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the joint receiving opening taken along line I--I of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
International PCT Application No. WO 99/16094, upon which the priority of the present invention is based, is herein incorporated by reference.
As shown in FIG. 1, a switch is equipped with a contact lever 1 displaceable substantially parallel to the plane of the drawing, to bring contact elements 1a into co
REFERENCES:
patent: 4165453 (1979-08-01), Hennemann
patent: 4944083 (1990-07-01), McIntosh
patent: 5137196 (1992-08-01), Ardueser et al.
AEG Niederspannungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
Blasey Thomas M.
Chaskin Jay L.
Gellner Michael L.
Horton Carl B.
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