Switching devices

Claim 2

An electromechanical switching device comprising at least one switch having a contact and an actuator displaceable to transfer the contact from one to the other of two positions; a switch operator which is distinct from said switch and is movable from a rest position to an operated position to displace said switch actuator and thereby effect a transfer of said contact; a push button actuator which is distinct from said switch operator and is movable between rest and operated positions, said push button actuator including means comprising an armature for moving said switch operator to the operated position thereof as said push button actuator is moved to its operated position; a permanent magnet cooperable with said armature to maintain said push button actuator in the operated position and thereby maintain the switch operator in its operated position; and an electromagnet energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and thereby allow said push button actuator and said switch operator to return to the rest positions thereof.

Claim 3

The electromechanical switching device of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of switches as aforesaid disposed in side-by-side relationship, said switch operator being dimensioned to engage the actuators of all of said switches and thereby concurrently effect the transfer of the contacts of the several switches.

Claim 4

The electromechanical switching device of claim 1, wherein said switch operator is physically and operationally located between said push button actuator and said switch actuator and wherein said switch operator includes biasing means for displacing the switch operator and the push button actuator to their rest positions upon neutralization of the permanent magnet field.

Claim 5

The electromechanical switching device of claim 2, wherein there are means in at least one of said switches for completing a circuit between two terminals thereof when the switch contact is transferred by displacement of the switch actuator and including circuit means for connecting the coil of the electromagnet in series with said terminals of said one switch and a source of operating voltage, whereby said electromagnet is energized when said actuator is in the actuated position thereof.

Claim 6

An electromechanical switching device comprising at least one switch having a contact and an actuator displaceable to transfer the contact from one to the other of two positions; a switch operator which is distinct from said switch and is movable from a rest position to an operated position to displace said switch actuator and thereby effect a transfer of said contact; a first frame housing said switch and said switch operator; a push button actuator movable between rest and operated positions, said push button actuator including means comprising an armature for moving said switch operator to the operated position thereof as said push button actuator is moved to its operated position; a permanent magnet surrounding said armature for maintaining said push button actuator in the operated position thereof to thereby maintain the switch operator in its operated position; an electromagnet surrounding said armature, said electromagnet being energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and thereby allow said push button actuator and said switch operator to return to the rest positions thereof; and a second frame housing said push button actuator, said permanent magnet, and said electromagnet.

Claim 7

An electromechanical switching device comprising at least one switch having a contact and an actuator displaceable to transfer the contact from one to the other of two positions; a switch operator which is distinct from said switch and is movable from a rest position to an operated position to displace said switch actuator and thereby effect a transfer of said contact; a first frame housing said switch and said switch operator; a push button actuator movable between rest and operated positions, said push button actuator including means comprising an armature for moving said switch operator to the operated position thereof as said push button actuator is moved to its operated position; a permanent magnet surrounding said armature for maintaining said push button actuator in the operated position thereof to thereby maintain the switch operator in its operated position; an electromagnet surrounding said armature, said electromagnet being energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and thereby allow said push button actuator and said switch operator to return to the rest positions thereof; and a second frame housing said push button actuator, said permanent magnet, and said electromagnet.

Claim 8

The electromechanical switching device of claim 5, wherein said second frame has an end wall and including means between said end wall and said electromagnet for biasing said electromagnet against said permanent magnet.

Claim 9

An electromechanical switching device comprising at least one switch having a contact and an actuator displaceable to transfer the contact from one to the other of two positions; a switch operator which is distinct from said switch movable from a rest position to an operated position to displace said switch actuator and thereby effect a transfer of said contact; a push button actuator movable between rest and operated positions, said push button actuator including means comprising an armature for moving said switch operator to the operated position thereof as said push button actuator is moved to Its operated position; a permanent magnet cooperable with said armature to maintain said push button actuator in the operated position thereof and thereby maintain the switch operator in its operated position; and an electromagnet energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and thereby allow said push button actuator and said switch operator to return to the rest positions thereof, said switch operator being of the snap-acting type and comprising a first pivotally mounted member having a portion thereof engageable with said switch actuator; a second member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis located in parallel, spaced relationship to the pivot axis of said first member; and a spring connected between said first and second members at locations removed from the pivot axes of said members and said push button actuator being positioned to engage and pivot said second member as said actuator is moved from its rest position to its operated position.

Claim 10

An electromechanical switching device comprising at least one switch having a contact and an actuator displaceable to transfer the contact from one to the other of two positions; a switch operator which is distinct from said switch movable from a rest position to an operated position to displace said switch actuator and thereby effect a transfer of said contact; a push button actuator movable between rest and operated positions, said push button actuator including means comprising an armature for moving said switch operator to the operated position thereof as said push button actuator is moved to Its operated position; a permanent magnet cooperable with said armature to maintain said push button actuator in the operated position thereof and thereby maintain the switch operator in its operated position; and an electromagnet energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and thereby allow said push button actuator and said switch operator to return to the rest positions thereof, said switch operator being of the snap-acting type and comprising a first pivotally mounted member having a portion thereof engageable with said switch actuator; a second member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis located in parallel, spaced relationship to the pivot axis of said first member; and a spring connected between said first and second members at locations removed from the pivot axes of said members and said push button actuator being positioned to engage and pivot said second member as said actuator is moved from its rest position to its operated position.

Claim 11

The electromechanical switching device of claim 7, wherein said switch comprises a housing having top, bottom, and end walls; a pair of elongated, spaced, substantially rigid, cantilevered contact arms secured to one of said end walls and extending toward the other end wall; fixed contacts on the facing surfaces of said rigid contact arms at the free ends thereof; a resilient, elongated contact arm extending between said rigid arms and secured to said one end wall; contact means on the opposite surfaces of said resilient contact arm positioned to alternatively engage one or the other of said fixed contacts; said actuator including an actuator member mounted for movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the centerline of said resilient arm for controlling movement thereof, said actuator member having an upper leg; means coupling the resilient contact arm to the actuator member at a position between the actuator member and the movable contacts for effecting a snap movement of the resilient arm to move the disengaged movable contact into engagement with the associated fixed contact; and integral backing portions extending from said one end wall between said resilient contact arm and each of the rigid contact arms toward the other end wall.

Claim 12

An electromechanical switching device comprising a switch module which includes a frame, a switch disposed in said frame, and a spring loaded mechanism distinct from said switch for actuating the switch; an operator module comprising a frame, a push button type actuator in said frame for operating the actuating mechanism in the switch module, means comprising said push button actuator and a permanent magnet for maintaining the push button actuator in the operated position, and an electromagnet energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and allow the push button actuator and the switch actuating mechanism to return to rest positions, said permanent magnet and said electromagnet being housed in said operator module frame; and means for detachably fixing the frame of said switch module to the frame of the operator module comprising a retainer fixed to the frame of said operator module, said retainer having means at one end thereof for receiving one edge of the switch module frame and at least one resilient finger means at the opposite end thereof for engaging an opposite edge of said switch module frame.

Claim 13

An electromechanical switching device comprising a switch module which includes a frame, a switch disposed in said frame, and a spring loaded mechanism distinct from said switch for actuating the switch; an operator module comprising a frame, a push button type actuator in said frame for operating the actuating mechanism in the switch module, means comprising said push button actuator and a permanent magnet for maintaining the push button actuator in the operated position, and an electromagnet energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and allow the push button actuator and the switch actuating mechanism to return to rest positions, said permanent magnet and said electromagnet being housed in said operator module frame; and means for detachably fixing the frame of said switch module to the frame of the operator module comprising a retainer fixed to the frame of said operator module, said retainer having means at one end thereof for receiving one edge of the switch module frame and at least one resilient finger means at the opposite end thereof for engaging an opposite edge of said switch module frame.

Claim 14

An electromechanical switching device comprising a switch module which includes a frame, a switch disposed in said frame, and a switch operator movable from a rest position to an operated position to displace said switch actuator and thereby effect a transfer of said contact, said switch operator comprising a first member pivotally supported by said frame and having a portion thereof engageable with said switch actuator, a second member pivotally supported by said frame for pivotal movement about an axis located in parallel, spaced relationship to the pivot axis of said first member, and a spring connected between said first and second members aT locations removed from the pivot axes of said members; and an operator module distinct from said switch module comprising a frame, a push button type actuator in said frame movable between rest and operated positions, said push button actuator having means including an armature for moving the switch operator to the operated position thereof as said push button actuator is moved to its operated position, a permanent magnet which surrounds and is cooperable with said armature to maintain said push button actuator in the operated position thereof and thereby maintain the switch operator in its operated position, and an electromagnet adjacent the permanent magnet and surrounding said armature which is energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and thereby allow said push button actuator and said switch operator to be returned to the rest positions thereof by the spring in said switch operator.

Claim 15

An electromechanical switching device comprising a switch module which includes a frame, a switch disposed in said frame, and a switch operator movable from a rest position to an operated position to displace said switch actuator and thereby effect a transfer of said contact, said switch operator comprising a first member pivotally supported by said frame and having a portion thereof engageable with said switch actuator, a second member pivotally supported by said frame for pivotal movement about an axis located in parallel, spaced relationship to the pivot axis of said first member, and a spring connected between said first and second members aT locations removed from the pivot axes of said members; and an operator module distinct from said switch module comprising a frame, a push button type actuator in said frame movable between rest and operated positions, said push button actuator having means including an armature for moving the switch operator to the operated position thereof as said push button actuator is moved to its operated position, a permanent magnet which surrounds and is cooperable with said armature to maintain said push button actuator in the operated position thereof and thereby maintain the switch operator in its operated position, and an electromagnet adjacent the permanent magnet and surrounding said armature which is energizable to neutralize the permanent magnet field and thereby allow said push button actuator and said switch operator to be returned to the rest positions thereof by the spring in said switch operator.

Claim 16

The electromechanical switching device of claim 10, together with means for detachably fixing the frame of said switch module to the frame of the operator module which comprises a retainer fixed to the frame of said operator module, said retainer having means at one end thereof for receiving one edge of the switch module frame and at least one resilient finger means at the opposite end thereof for engaging an opposite edge of said switch module frame.