US4912289A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Quieted fast acting switch assembly with visco-elastic polymer laminated between metal layers
Assignee: Delphi Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-21
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Granted: 1990-03-27
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Expires: 2008-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A relatively quiet switch assembly having a plurality of spaced contact sets with snap-acting transfer actuation and interconnected by a common bus plate. The bus plate is formed of a swandwich construction having a thin (0.001 Inch) core layer of visco-elastic polymer and thicker layers of copper bonded to both sides of the core layer for sound attenuation upon contact transfer. Where the bus plate is formed to a right-angle bend of R/t-1.2 the inner layer is formed of half-hard material and the outer layer of fully annealed material.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Lauritsen
- 👤 Conrad W. Pastwa
- 👤 Daniel A. Wycklendt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/50; H01H1/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A fast-acting electrical switch assembly comprising: (a) means defining first and second stationary contacts; (b) movable actuator means including first and second electrically isolated contact means respectively associated with said first and second stationary contacts and upon application of an actuation force thereto said movable means operative for individually making and breaking a circuit between said first stationary and movable contacts and said second stationary and movable contacts; (c) bus means interconnecting said first and second stationary contacts, said bus means comprising first and second layers of copper material with a layer of visco-elastic polymer material laminated between said first and second layers and bonded thereto, said bus means operative to reduce the level of the sound resulting from said contact movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A fast-acting electrical switch assembly comprising: (a) means defining first and second stationary contacts; (b) movable actuator means including first and second electrically isolated contact means respectively associated with said first and second stationary contacts and upon application of an actuation force thereto said movable means operative for individually making and breaking a circuit between said first stationary and movable contacts and said second stationary and movable contacts; (c) bus means interconnecting said first and second stationary contacts, said bus means comprising first and second layers of copper material with a layer of visco-elastic polymer material laminated between said first and second layers and bonded thereto, said bus means operative to reduce the level of the sound resulting from said contact movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The switch assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said first layer is formed of copper material having a maximum hardness of 55 on the Brinell scale and said second layer having a minimum hardness of 71 on the Brinell scale.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The switch assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said polymer material has a thickness of 0.025-0.05 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The switch assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second copper layers have the ratio of the thicker to the thinnest of the two not exceeding 1.5.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The switch assembly defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said bus means has a portion thereof formed to a radius of curvature; and, (b) the radially inner layer of copper of said curvature is formed of half-hard copper material with the radially outer layer of copper being formed of fully annealed copper material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The switch assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said bus means has a right-angle bend with the ratio of bend radius to material thickness at least 1.20.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3244848A
Cited
US4703139A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-26 | 1993-09-25 | 1994-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-26 | 1997-09-25 | 1998-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-26 | 2001-09-25 | 2002-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |