Multipole switching mechanism

Claim 2

A switch mechanism comprising: a base having an opening in the upper surface thereof; a movable operator on said base, said operator having an upper surface exposed through the opening in the upper surface of said base; a plurality of discrete contact modules each having a fixed and movable contact; means for individually mounting each of said modules external of said base on the upper surface thereof and overlying said operator; an actuator in each module engageable with said movable contact and engageable by said operator through said opening in the upper surface of said base whereby movement of said operator causes simultaneous movement of the movable contacts of all of said individually mounted modules through their respective actuators.

Claim 3

A switch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: said actuators of each of said modules are exposed at the lower surfaces of said modules for engagement by said operator and is exposed at the upper surfaces of said modules, the upper surfaces of said modules being adapted to receive and support an auxiliary contact unit; and further comprising a plurality of discrete auxiliary contact units, each individually mounted on the upper surfaces of different ones of said modules and completely and independently supported thereby, said auxiliary units having a plunger engageable and operable by said actuator; whereby said auxiliary contact units remain mounted upon and fully supported by the respective supporting module when said supporting module is removed from said base.

Claim 4

A switch mechanism according to claim 2, in which the plungers of each of said auxiliary contact units are exposed at both ends of said unit, each of the upper surfaces of said units being adapted to receive and support another auxiliary contact unit, whereby multiple units may be stacked upon each other and operated by said actuator and removable from said base while remaining fully mounted and supported by said module.

Claim 5

A switch mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: an electromagnet including a magnetic core portion mounted on the lower portion of said base, an armature movable mounted above said electromagnet and forming said operator, and spring means normally urging said armature away from said electromagnet.

Claim 6

A switch mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a handle mounted on said base, and linkage means between said handle and said operator to effect the opening and closing of said contacts upon operation of said handle.

Claim 7

A switch mechanism according to claim 5, further comprising: a window in each module through which said contacts can be observed.

Claim 8

A switch according to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of posts mounted on said base, a handle pivoted to said posts, an elongated bar forming said operator movably mounted on said base adjacent said actuators, and linkage means connecting said handle to said bar.

Claim 9

A switch mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a window in each module through which said contacts can be observed.

Claim 10

A modular contact structure comprising: a casing; at least one contact fixed in said casing; at least one contact movable in said casing; and a plunger extending through said casing, said plunger being slidable in said casing and engageable with said movable contact to open and close said contacts; said plunger being accessible from opposite ends of said casing for engagement by an operator at one end to move said actuator and for engagement of a plunger of a contact module stacked on the other end; means at said other end of said casing adapted to grip opposed flanges projecting from the uPper end of a base; said gripping means including a fixed hook at one end for receiving one said flange and a slidable hook on the other end for receiving the opposite flange; and spring means urging said slidable hook toward said fixed hook to resiliently clamp each module on said base.

Claim 11

A modular contact structure comprising: a casing; at least one contact fixed in said casing; at least one contact movable in said casing; and a plunger extending through said casing, said plunger being slidable in said casing and engageable with said movable contact to open and close said contacts; said plunger being accessible from opposite ends of said casing for engagement by an operator at one end to move said actuator and for engagement of a plunger of a contact module stacked on the other end; means at said other end of said casing adapted to grip opposed flanges projecting from the uPper end of a base; said gripping means including a fixed hook at one end for receiving one said flange and a slidable hook on the other end for receiving the opposite flange; and spring means urging said slidable hook toward said fixed hook to resiliently clamp each module on said base.

Claim 12

A modular contact structure according to claim 9, said casing being a single molded element having a hole therethrough, and said plunger being a single molded element slidably mounted in said hole.

Claim 13

A modular contact structure according to claim 10, further comprising: said hole having an elongated recess, a return spring in said recess, said plunger having a flange engaged by said spring.

Claim 14

A modular contact structure according to claim 10, further comprising: a shoulder at one end of said hole, said plunger having a flange snap-fitted past said shoulder and normally seated on said shoulder, and a spring in said hole urging said flange against said shoulder.

Claim 15

A modular contact structure according to claim 9, said casing comprising two internally contoured casing halves, said casing halves securely receiving said fixed and movable contacts in nested relation, said contacts being retained in position solely by said nested relation.

Claim 16

A modular contact structure according to claim 13, further comprising: a U-shaped connector having one leg exposed through one edge of said casing for receipt of a connecting wire, and another leg projecting into said casing, a pigtail connecting said other leg to one end of said movable contact, said movable contact lying generally parallel and in close proximity to said other leg, and said fixed contact projecting out the opposite edge of said casing.

Claim 17

A switch mechanism comprising: a base; a movable operator on said base, said operator having an exposed upper surface; a plurality of discrete contact modules each having a fixed and a movable contact; means for individually mounting each of said modules on said base overlying said operator; an actuator in each module engageable with said movable contact and engageable by said operator in said base whereby movement of said operator causes simultaneous movement of all the movable contacts of all of said individually mounted modules through their respective actuators; mating locator means on said base and modules respectively selectively permitting the symmetrical mounting of one to four modules on said base; said locator means including a first set of locating elements on each of said discrete contact modules, and at least seven second sets of locator elements each adapted to mate with any one of said first sets of locator elements; and said second sets of elements being carried by said base and positioned symmetrically with respect to said operator.

Claim 18

A switch mechanism comprising: a base; a movable operator on said base, said operator having an exposed upper surface; a plurality of discrete contact modules each having a fixed and a movable contact; means for individually mounting each of said modules on said base overlying said operator; an actuator in each module engageable with said movable contact and engageable by said operator in said base whereby movement of said operator causes simultaneous movement of all the movable contacts of all of said individually mounted modules through their respective actuators; mating locator means on said base and modules respectively selectively permitting the symmetrical mounting of one to four modules on said base; said locator means including a first set of locating elements on each of said discrete contact modules, and at least seven second sets of locator elements each adapted to mate with any one of said first sets of locator elements; and said second sets of elements being carried by said base and positioned symmetrically with respect to said operator.

Claim 19

A switch mechanism comprising: a base; opposed flanges projecting from the upper end of said base; a movable operator on said base, said operator having an exposed upper surface; a plurality of contact modules each having a fixed and movable contact; means for mounting said modules on said base overlying said operator; each said module having a fixed hook at one end for receiving one said flange and a slidable hook on the other end for receiving the opposite flange, and spring means urging said slidable hook toward said fixed hook to resiliently clamp each module on said base; and an actuator in each module engageable with said movable contact and engageable by said operator in said base whereby movement of said operator causes simultaneous movement of all movable contacts through their respective actuators.

Claim 20

A switch mechanism comprising: a base; opposed flanges projecting from the upper end of said base; a movable operator on said base, said operator having an exposed upper surface; a plurality of contact modules each having a fixed and movable contact; means for mounting said modules on said base overlying said operator; each said module having a fixed hook at one end for receiving one said flange and a slidable hook on the other end for receiving the opposite flange, and spring means urging said slidable hook toward said fixed hook to resiliently clamp each module on said base; and an actuator in each module engageable with said movable contact and engageable by said operator in said base whereby movement of said operator causes simultaneous movement of all movable contacts through their respective actuators.