Quick-make and quick-break switch

Claim 2

Switch means including a switch frame, a pair of actuators pivotally mounted on said switch frame, an actuating shaft having a rotatable driving crank arm fixedly secured thereto, said rotatable crank arm having a spring support at one end and a positive actuating portion at the other extremity thereof for abutting engagement with said pair of actuators, a driven crank arm having a spring support at one end thereof, an overcenter tension spring interconnecting the two spring supports for snap-opening and snap-closing action, separable contacts mechanically connected to said driven crank arm, each pivotal actuator having an actuating end and a positive driving end, said actuating end being disposed in the path of movement of the positive actuating end portion of the rotatable driving crank arm, the positive driving end of the actuator positively driving the spring-supporting end of the driven crank arm, for positively driving the driven crank arm should the separable contacts become welded closed.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, wherein the line of action of the overcenter tension spring does not pass over the centerline should the pivotal actuators fail to move due to excessive welding conditions at the contacts, and thereby the handle being retrieved to its initial ''''closed'''' position for correct switch indication position.

Claim 4

Switch means including a pair of spaced metallic plate portions having bearing openings therethrough in alignment, a pair of actuators pivotally mounted on one metallic plate portion, an actuating shaft extending through the bearing opening of said one metallic plate portion and having a rotatable driving crank arm fixedly secured thereto, said rotatable crank arm having a spring support at one end and a positive actuating portion at the other extremity thereof for abutting engagement with said pair of actuators, a driven crank arm having a spring support at one end Thereof, an overcenter tension spring interconnecting the two spring supports for snap-opening and snap-closing action, separable contacts mechanically connected to said driven crank arm, each pivotal actuator having an actuating end and a positive driving end, said actuating end being disposed in the path of movement of the positive actuating portion of the rotatable driving crank arm, the positive driving end of the actuator positively driving the spring-supporting end of the driven crank arm for positively driving the driven crank arm should the separable contacts become welded closed.

Claim 5

Switch means including a pair of spaced metallic plate portions having bearing openings therethrough in alignment, a pair of actuators pivotally mounted on one metallic plate portion, an actuating shaft extending through the bearing opening of said one metallic plate portion and having a rotatable driving crank arm fixedly secured thereto, said rotatable crank arm having a spring support at one end and a positive actuating portion at the other extremity thereof for abutting engagement with said pair of actuators, a driven crank arm having a spring support at one end Thereof, an overcenter tension spring interconnecting the two spring supports for snap-opening and snap-closing action, separable contacts mechanically connected to said driven crank arm, each pivotal actuator having an actuating end and a positive driving end, said actuating end being disposed in the path of movement of the positive actuating portion of the rotatable driving crank arm, the positive driving end of the actuator positively driving the spring-supporting end of the driven crank arm for positively driving the driven crank arm should the separable contacts become welded closed.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 3, wherein a rotatable bridging member having two sets of cooperable flexible finger contacts is provided.

Claim 7

In combination, a mounting member having an opening therethrough, switch-frame means including a bearing sleeve fixedly supported to the mounting member, a sealing sleeve fixedly supported in said opening and supporting a ring of elastomeric material, an actuating switch member rotatably mounted with a relatively tight fit in said bearing sleeve and with a relatively loose fit in said sealing sleeve, and shoulder means on said bearing sleeve telescoping within a shoulder portion of the sealing sleeve for providing concentricity of the two sleeves.

Claim 8

In combination, a mounting member having an opening therethrough, switch-frame means including a bearing sleeve fixedly supported to the mounting member, a sealing sleeve fixedly supported in said opening and supporting a ring of elastomeric material, an actuating switch member rotatably mounted with a relatively tight fit in said bearing sleeve and with a relatively loose fit in said sealing sleeve, and shoulder means on said bearing sleeve telescoping within a shoulder portion of the sealing sleeve for providing concentricity of the two sleeves.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim l wherein a cam slot guides the motion of the driven rotatable crank arm.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 6, wherein detent notches are provided at the ends of said cam slot.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 6, wherein the cam slot is widened at the intermediate portion thereof to thereby reduce the detent action.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim l, wherein a rotatable bridging member having two sets of cooperable flexible finger contacts is provided.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 3, wherein the other metallic plate portion is provided with a cam slot which guides the motion of the driven rotatable crank arm.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim l0, wherein detent notches are provided at the ends of said cam slot.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim ll, wherein the cam slot is widened at the intermediate portion thereof to thereby reduce the detent action.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 5, wherein the mounting member is a transformer casing, and the actuating switch member is a rotatable operating shaft extending externally of the transformer casing.

Claim 17

The combination according to claim 5, wherein the switch-frame means is a generally rectangularly shaped member.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim l, wherein spaced stops formed on the frame limit the degree of rotation of the driving crank arm.

Claim 19

The switch means of claim 3, wherein the line of action of the overcenter tension spring does not pass over the centerline should the pivotal actuator fail to move due to excessive welding conditions at the contacts, and thereby the handle being retrieved to its initial ''''closed'''' position for correct switch indication position.

Claim 20

Switch means including a switch frame, at least one actuator pivotally mounted on said switch frame, an actuating shaft having a rotatable driving crank arm fixedly secured thereto, said rotatable crank arm having a spring support at one end and a positive actuating portion adjacent the other extremity thereof for abutting engagement with said one actuator, a driven crank arm having a spring support at one end thereof, an overcenter tension spring interconnecting the two spring supports for snap-opening and snap-closing action, separable contacts mechanically connected to said driven crank arm, said one pivotal actuator having an actuating end and a positive driving end, said actuating end being disposed in the path of movement of the positive actuating portion of the rotatable driving crank arm, the positive driving end of the actuator positively driving the spring-supporting end of the driven crank arm should the separable contacts become welded closed.

Claim 21

Switch means including a switch frame, at least one actuator pivotally mounted on said switch frame, an actuating shaft having a rotatable driving crank arm fixedly secured thereto, said rotatable crank arm having a spring support at one end and a positive actuating portion adjacent the other extremity thereof for abutting engagement with said one actuator, a driven crank arm having a spring support at one end thereof, an overcenter tension spring interconnecting the two spring supports for snap-opening and snap-closing action, separable contacts mechanically connected to said driven crank arm, said one pivotal actuator having an actuating end and a positive driving end, said actuating end being disposed in the path of movement of the positive actuating portion of the rotatable driving crank arm, the positive driving end of the actuator positively driving the spring-supporting end of the driven crank arm should the separable contacts become welded closed.

Claim 22

The combination according to claim 3, wherein spaced stops are formed on the switch frame to limit the degree of rotation of the driving crank arm.

Claim 23

The combination of claim l7, wherein the line of action of the overcenter tension spring does not pass over the centerline should the pivotal actuator fail to move due to excessive welding conditions at the contacts, and thereby the handle being retrieved to its initial ''''closed'''' position for correct switch indication position.