Contact pressure sustaining switch

Claim 2

In a snap-action mechanism the combination comprising: a movable member operated by the snap-action mechanism that reciprocates in a stroke between two positions; an over center spring means that has one end that acts upon said movable member and urges the movable member toward one of said two positions depending upoN which side of center said spring means resides; an operating member connected to another end of said over center spring means and that moves said over center spring means from one side of center to the other; an actuator having a lost motion connection with said operating member, and operable to move the operating member upon completing the lost motion; and bias spring means operatively connected to said operating member and to said actuator that are loaded by the actuator during lost motion movement, and which move the operating member from the actuator upon the operating member moving the over center spring means near its over center position, to thereby quickly move the over center spring means across its center position.

Claim 3

In a snap-action switch the combination comprising: stationary contacts; a movable contact member that travels toward and away from the stationary contacts; an over center toggle spring having one end working upon said movable contact member to move said member with respect to the stationary contacts depending upon which side of over center said toggle spring resides; an operating member engaged with the opposite end of said toggle spring and having a reciprocal stroke that moves said spring end in a corresponding motion; a reciprocally movable actuator having a lost motion connection with said operating member, which actuator moves through such lost motion and then carries the operating member therewith in either direction of reciprocation; and bias spring means operatively connected to said operating member and to said actuator so as to be loaded upon lost motion movement of the actuator with respect to the operating member.

Claim 4

In a snap-action switch the combination comprising: stationary contacts; a movable contact member that travels toward and away from the stationary contacts; an over center toggle spring having one end working upon said movable contact member to move said member with respect to the stationary contacts depending upon which side of over center said toggle spring resides; an operating member engaged with the opposite end of said toggle spring and having a reciprocal stroke that moves said spring end in a corresponding motion; a reciprocally movable actuator having a lost motion connection with said operating member, which actuator moves through such lost motion and then carries the operating member therewith in either direction of reciprocation; and bias spring means operatively connected to said operating member and to said actuator so as to be loaded upon lost motion movement of the actuator with respect to the operating member.

Claim 5

In a snap-action switch the combination comprising: a translatable toggle bar; a movable contact member; over center toggle elements each having one end connected to said toggle bar and an opposite end connected to said movable contact member, which elements are adapted to apply a force upon said movable contact member, and also a force upon said toggle bar that acts opposite to the direction of translation of the toggle bar; an actuator having a lost motion connection with said toggle bar, and engageable with said toggle bar to translate the same upon the taking up of said lost motion; and a bias spring that is operatively connected to said toggle bar and to said actuator and is loaded upon moving said actuator through said lost motion, such spring loading placing a bias force against said toggle bar in a direction opposing said toggle component force, whereby translation of the toggle bar in response to said switch actuator, after the taking up of said lost motion shifts said toggle elements to reduce said component force until said bias spring force overpowers said component force to move the toggle elements to a reverse toggle position.

Claim 6

In a snap-action switch the combination comprising: a translatable toggle bar; a movable contact member; over center toggle elements each having one end connected to said toggle bar and an opposite end connected to said movable contact member, which elements are adapted to apply a force upon said movable contact member, and also a force upon said toggle bar that acts opposite to the direction of translation of the toggle bar; an actuator having a lost motion connection with said toggle bar, and engageable with said toggle bar to translate the same upon the taking up of said lost motion; and a bias spring that is operatively connected to said toggle bar and to said actuator and is loaded upon moving said actuator through said lost motion, such spring loading placing a bias force against said toggle bar in a direction opposing said toggle component force, whereby translation of the toggle bar in response to said switch actuator, after the taking up of said lost motion shifts said toggle elements to reduce said component force until said bias spring force overpowers said component force to move the toggle elements to a reverse toggle position.

Claim 7

A snap action switch as in claim 3 wherein the toggle elements have a spring means with a spring characteristic that changes at a greater rate than said bias spring when the bias spring is in a position of overpowering said component force.

Claim 8

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a reciprocally movable toggle bar with a bias spring receiving aperture that has oppositely disposed push pads spaced from one another with a gap therebetween that is in the direction of the line of motion of the toggle bar; a reciprocally movable actuator member having a part that receives an operating force for moving the member in one direction, and having a tongue portion disposed between said push pads that is of lesser dimension than the gap distance between the push pads; a pair of bias springs in said bias spring receiving aperture positioned on either side of the actuator member tongue portion to bias the toggle bar with respect to the actuator member; a set of stationary contacts; a movable contact spanner engageable and disengageable with said stationary contacts; a pair of toggle springs associated with and forming snap-action connections between said toggle bar and said contact spanner; and a return spring acting upon said actuator member to drive the member against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 9

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a reciprocally movable toggle bar with a bias spring receiving aperture that has oppositely disposed push pads spaced from one another with a gap therebetween that is in the direction of the line of motion of the toggle bar; a reciprocally movable actuator member having a part that receives an operating force for moving the member in one direction, and having a tongue portion disposed between said push pads that is of lesser dimension than the gap distance between the push pads; a pair of bias springs in said bias spring receiving aperture positioned on either side of the actuator member tongue portion to bias the toggle bar with respect to the actuator member; a set of stationary contacts; a movable contact spanner engageable and disengageable with said stationary contacts; a pair of toggle springs associated with and forming snap-action connections between said toggle bar and said contact spanner; and a return spring acting upon said actuator member to drive the member against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 10

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a reciprocally movable toggle bar with toggle engaging sections, and a bias spring receiving aperture that has oppositely disposed push pads spaced from one another with a gap therebetween that is in the direction of the line of motion of the toggle bar; a set of spaced abutments on opposite sides of a part of said toggle bar to limit the stroke of the toggle bar; a reciprocally movable actuator member having a part that receives an operating force for moving the member in one direction, and having a tongue portion disposed between said push pads and is of lesser dimension than the gap distance between the push pads; a first bias spring within said aperture of said toggle bar interposed between said tongue portion of said actuator member and a wall of the aperture to bias the toggle bar away from said actuator member in one direction; a second bias spring within said aperture of said toggle bar interposed between said tongue portion of said actuator member and another wall of the aperture of said toggle bar to bias the toggle bar away from said actuator member in a second, opposite direction; a set of stationary contacts; a movable contact spanner engageable and disengageable with said stationary contacts; toggle springs interposed between the toggle engaging sections of said toggle bar and said movable contact spanner, which toggle springs are moved between opposite sides of an unstable central position by the motion of said toggle bar, and apply forces upon said movable contact spanner and said toggle bar in reverse directions as movement occurs from one side of such central position to the other; and a return spring acting upon said actuator member to drive the member against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 11

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a reciprocally movable toggle bar with toggle engaging sections, and a bias spring receiving aperture that has oppositely disposed push pads spaced from one another with a gap therebetween that is in the direction of the line of motion of the toggle bar; a set of spaced abutments on opposite sides of a part of said toggle bar to limit the stroke of the toggle bar; a reciprocally movable actuator member having a part that receives an operating force for moving the member in one direction, and having a tongue portion disposed between said push pads and is of lesser dimension than the gap distance between the push pads; a first bias spring within said aperture of said toggle bar interposed between said tongue portion of said actuator member and a wall of the aperture to bias the toggle bar away from said actuator member in one direction; a second bias spring within said aperture of said toggle bar interposed between said tongue portion of said actuator member and another wall of the aperture of said toggle bar to bias the toggle bar away from said actuator member in a second, opposite direction; a set of stationary contacts; a movable contact spanner engageable and disengageable with said stationary contacts; toggle springs interposed between the toggle engaging sections of said toggle bar and said movable contact spanner, which toggle springs are moved between opposite sides of an unstable central position by the motion of said toggle bar, and apply forces upon said movable contact spanner and said toggle bar in reverse directions as movement occurs from one side of such central position to the other; and a return spring acting upon said actuator member to drive the member against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 12

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a movable contact member having a central opening and a pair of upper and lower contacts on each end; a set of stationary contacts; a reciprocally movable toggle bar having a vertical portion and a cross arm that define an inverted cross, said vertical portion has a pair of toggle engaging sections and extends through the central opening of the movable contact member, said cross arm has a rectangularly shaped aperture with upper and lower push pads spaced apart to form a gap; a set of spaced abutments positioned above and below opposite sides of said toggle bar to limit the stroke of the toggle bar; toggle springs interposed between the toggle engaging sections of said toggle bar and said movable contact member, which toggle springs are moved between opposite sides of an unstable central position by the motion of said toggle bar, and apply forces upon said movable contact member and said toggle bar in reverse directions as movement occurs from one side of such central position to the other; a reciprocally movable actuator member having a part that receives an operating force for moving the member in one direction, and having a tongue portion disposed between said push pads and is of lesser dimension than the gap distance between the push pads; a first bias spring within said aperture of said toggle bar interposed between said tongue portion of said actuator member and a wall of the aperture to bias the toggle bar away from said actuator member in one direction; a second bias spring within said aperture of said toggle bar interposed between said tongue portion of said actuator member and another wall of the aperture of said toggle bar to bias the toggle bar away from said actuator member in a second, opposite direction; and a return spring acting upon saiD actuator member to drive the member against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 13

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a movable contact member having a central opening and a pair of upper and lower contacts on each end; a set of stationary contacts; a reciprocally movable toggle bar having a vertical portion and a cross arm that define an inverted cross, said vertical portion has a pair of toggle engaging sections and extends through the central opening of the movable contact member, said cross arm has a rectangularly shaped aperture with upper and lower push pads spaced apart to form a gap; a set of spaced abutments positioned above and below opposite sides of said toggle bar to limit the stroke of the toggle bar; toggle springs interposed between the toggle engaging sections of said toggle bar and said movable contact member, which toggle springs are moved between opposite sides of an unstable central position by the motion of said toggle bar, and apply forces upon said movable contact member and said toggle bar in reverse directions as movement occurs from one side of such central position to the other; a reciprocally movable actuator member having a part that receives an operating force for moving the member in one direction, and having a tongue portion disposed between said push pads and is of lesser dimension than the gap distance between the push pads; a first bias spring within said aperture of said toggle bar interposed between said tongue portion of said actuator member and a wall of the aperture to bias the toggle bar away from said actuator member in one direction; a second bias spring within said aperture of said toggle bar interposed between said tongue portion of said actuator member and another wall of the aperture of said toggle bar to bias the toggle bar away from said actuator member in a second, opposite direction; and a return spring acting upon saiD actuator member to drive the member against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 14

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a reciprocally movable toggle bar with toggle engaging sections, and a bias spring receiving aperture that has oppositely disposed push pads spaced from one another with a gap therebetween that is in the direction of the line of motion of the toggle bar; a set of spaced abutments positioned above and below opposite sides of said toggle bar that limit the stroke of the toggle bar; upper and lower elongated bias springs disposed within said bias spring receiving aperture; a C-shaped actuator with an upper portion that receives an operating force, a mid-portion parallel to the toggle bar and a lower portion having a tongue that extends forward into the gap defined by said toggle bar push pads and is interposed between said upper and lower bias springs so that vertical movement of the actuator will cause loading of one of the bias springs, which loaded spring will thereafter act to bias the toggle bar with respect to the actuator; a set of stationary contacts; a movable contact spanner engageable and disengageable with said stationary contacts; toggle springs interposed between the toggle engaging sections of said toggle bar and said movable contact spanner, which toggle springs are moved between opposite sides of an unstable central position by the motion of said toggle bar, and apply forces upon said movable contact spanner and said toggle bar in reverse directions as movement occurs from one side of such central position to the other; and a return spring acting upon said actuator to drive the actuator against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 15

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a reciprocally movable toggle bar with toggle engaging sections, and a bias spring receiving aperture that has oppositely disposed push pads spaced from one another with a gap therebetween that is in the direction of the line of motion of the toggle bar; a set of spaced abutments positioned above and below opposite sides of said toggle bar that limit the stroke of the toggle bar; upper and lower elongated bias springs disposed within said bias spring receiving aperture; a C-shaped actuator with an upper portion that receives an operating force, a mid-portion parallel to the toggle bar and a lower portion having a tongue that extends forward into the gap defined by said toggle bar push pads and is interposed between said upper and lower bias springs so that vertical movement of the actuator will cause loading of one of the bias springs, which loaded spring will thereafter act to bias the toggle bar with respect to the actuator; a set of stationary contacts; a movable contact spanner engageable and disengageable with said stationary contacts; toggle springs interposed between the toggle engaging sections of said toggle bar and said movable contact spanner, which toggle springs are moved between opposite sides of an unstable central position by the motion of said toggle bar, and apply forces upon said movable contact spanner and said toggle bar in reverse directions as movement occurs from one side of such central position to the other; and a return spring acting upon said actuator to drive the actuator against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 16

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a movable contact member having a central opening and a pair of upper and lower contacts on each end; a set of stationary contacts; a reciprocally movable toggle bar having a vertical portion and a cross arm that define an inverted cross, said vertical portion has a pair of toggle engaging sections and extends through the central opening of the movable contact member, said cross arm has a rectangularly shaped aperture with upper and lower push pads spaced apart to form a gap; a set of spaced abutments positioned above and below opposite sides of said toggle bar to limit the stroke of the toggle bar; toggle springs interposed between the toggle engaging sections of said toggle bar and said movable contact member, which toggle springs are moved between opposite sides of an unstable central position by the motion of said toggle bar, and apply forces upon said movable contact member and said toggle bar in reverse directions as movement occurs from one side of such central position to the other; upper and lower elongated bias springs disposed within said cross arm aperture; a reciprocally movable C-shaped actuator with an upper portion that receives an operating force, a mid-portion parallel to the toggle bar vertical portion and a lower portion having a tongue that extends forward into the gap defined by said toggle bar push pads and is interposed between said upper and lower bias springs so that initial movement of the actuator will cause loading of one of the bias springs, which loaded spring will thereafter act to bias the toggle bar with respect to the actuator; and a return spring acting upon said actuator to drive the actuator against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 17

In a snap action switch the combination comprising: a movable contact member having a central opening and a pair of upper and lower contacts on each end; a set of stationary contacts; a reciprocally movable toggle bar having a vertical portion and a cross arm that define an inverted cross, said vertical portion has a pair of toggle engaging sections and extends through the central opening of the movable contact member, said cross arm has a rectangularly shaped aperture with upper and lower push pads spaced apart to form a gap; a set of spaced abutments positioned above and below opposite sides of said toggle bar to limit the stroke of the toggle bar; toggle springs interposed between the toggle engaging sections of said toggle bar and said movable contact member, which toggle springs are moved between opposite sides of an unstable central position by the motion of said toggle bar, and apply forces upon said movable contact member and said toggle bar in reverse directions as movement occurs from one side of such central position to the other; upper and lower elongated bias springs disposed within said cross arm aperture; a reciprocally movable C-shaped actuator with an upper portion that receives an operating force, a mid-portion parallel to the toggle bar vertical portion and a lower portion having a tongue that extends forward into the gap defined by said toggle bar push pads and is interposed between said upper and lower bias springs so that initial movement of the actuator will cause loading of one of the bias springs, which loaded spring will thereafter act to bias the toggle bar with respect to the actuator; and a return spring acting upon said actuator to drive the actuator against one of said push pads and to carry said toggle bar to one end of its stroke.

Claim 18

In a snap-action mechanism the combination comprising: a reciprocable toggle bar; a movable member shiftable between opposite positions; a toggle spring interposed between said toggle bar and said movable member, urging said toggle bar in one direction, and urging said movable member in opposite direction into one of its positions; an actuator for driVing said toggle bar that has a lost motion connection with said toggle bar, and that upon taking up said lost motion translates the toggle bar therewith to advance the toggle spring toward toggle center position; and a bias spring operatively connected to said actuator and to said toggle bar, said bias spring being loaded during said lost motion and then working against said toggle spring as said actuator translates the toggle bar toward toggle center position, whereby said bias spring effects snap over of the toggle bar and toggle spring and said toggle spring shifts said movable member to its opposite position.

Claim 19

In a snap-action mechanism the combination comprising: a reciprocable toggle bar; a movable member shiftable between opposite positions; a toggle spring interposed between said toggle bar and said movable member, urging said toggle bar in one direction, and urging said movable member in opposite direction into one of its positions; an actuator for driVing said toggle bar that has a lost motion connection with said toggle bar, and that upon taking up said lost motion translates the toggle bar therewith to advance the toggle spring toward toggle center position; and a bias spring operatively connected to said actuator and to said toggle bar, said bias spring being loaded during said lost motion and then working against said toggle spring as said actuator translates the toggle bar toward toggle center position, whereby said bias spring effects snap over of the toggle bar and toggle spring and said toggle spring shifts said movable member to its opposite position.