Switch

Application filed April 28, 1930. Serial No. 447,949.

This invention relates to electric switches and has particular reference to the key controlled type in which the circuit closing means is maintained against unauthorized actuation, s One of the objects of the invention is to provide a switch of efficient and simple construction. .

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch structure normally insured 10 against unauthorized actuation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch wherein the circuit completing members are entirely surrounded by dielectric material.

'15 Further obj ects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present inven²⁰ tion is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear end elevation of the improved switch, substantially as indicated by the arrow 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch device, a part thereof being in section substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 2—2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the switch so device substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 3—3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line and in this direction of the arrows 4—4 of Fig. 2. . .

⁸⁵ Fig. 5 is an expanded view in perspective of the circuit closing, means, illustrating the cooperative relation of the several parts contributing to the invention.

With particular reference to the drawings, ‘-° 20 indicates a lock or key controlled frame supporting a key cylinder or other contact actuator mechanism 21, that may be operated by a convenient and proper key 22, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. The frame 20 is -⁵ generally cylindrical in formation and has a threaded portion 25 to cooperate with a clamping nut 26 so that the switch device may be secured to an instrument panel, dash or other convenient portion 27 of vehicle struc^s0 ture. The lock switch is retained in place by seating it within an aperture 28 of the dash against a ferrule 29 of the frame 20, and running on the clamping nut 26. At one or more points the frame 20 is provided with flats 30 which cooperate to provide a nonro- ⁶⁵tating relation with the dash member or support 27.1

It will be observed that the key cylinder 21 is kept in an axial bore 35 of the lock frame, and is retained therein in any convenient or ⁶⁰desirable manner well known to those-skilled in the art. Since the instant invention does not reside in maintaining the key cylinder 21 within the frame 20, further description thereof is not herein supplied. The axial ^C{!bore 35 of the frame is of stepped form or is enlarged at 36 to provide a cup-like recess for a purpose later to be described, and bore at the inner terminating end of the frame 20 is further enlarged at 37 to provide mating en- ⁷⁰gagement with a dielectric member later to be described. At preferred points about the frame 20 the inner end thereof is notched as at 38, which notches extend substantially the _ depth of the enlargement 37. This notching ^<5provides a terminating end of the frame 20 with circumferentially spaced arc like tongues 39 and 40, that operate to maintain nonrotative engagement with a switch back, the description of which will soon follow. -SO

The inner end of the key cylinder 21, in many respects, is much like the corresponding end of the frame 20, in that it is centrally recessed at 45, which recess is enlarged at 46, and the terminating end thereof is notched ⁸⁵at 47 and 48 throughout the depth of the enlargement 46 to provide the arc like tongues 49 and 50. When the parts 20 and 21 are properly assembled, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, an annular or ring like , chamber is ⁰⁰then formed by the enlargement 36 about the dove-tailed end of the key cylinder 21, and makes provision for reception of a driving mechanism that has interfitting engagement with the tongues 49 and 50 of the key cylinder 21.

For closing the end of the frame 20, there is provided a dielectric member 55 or switch back, as it may be termed, that carries a pair of terminal members 56 and 57. The mem- ' '

1,853,076 ber 55 is cup-like in form, in that it has an axially extending flange or rim 58 on the inner face thereof, providing a contact enclosure or chamber 59. The inner face of the ³ switch back provides detent recesses 60 and 61 that are arranged in a concentric row with respect to the inner ends of the terminal members 56 and 57, forming fixed contacts 62 and 63 respectively. At preferred regions about ¹⁰ the rim 58 of the member 55, arc-like notches 65 and 66 are provided to receive the tongues or tenons 39 and 40 of the frame 20. This forms a rim to rim interfitting engagement therewith and maintains the switch back in ¹⁵ nonrotative relation with respect to the frame 20.

Nicely fitting within the recess 59 formed by the flange 58 of the switch back, a dielectric contact supporting member 70 is pro²⁰ vided, that has recesses 71 and 72 for driving reception of axially extending tongues 73 and 74 of a bridging contact member 75. The contact 75 is formed to provide spherical portions 76 adapted to ride over the switch back ²³ and optionally engage the detent recesses 60 and 61 or the fixed contacts 62 and 63. The contact supporting member 70 is of a size nicely fitting within the bore 59 of the switch back and when disposed therein with its con²³ tact member in place, operates with the switch back to form a closure for the chamber 59, within which are housed the circuit completing elements. Thus, the contact making-andbreaking members are wholly surrounded by ³⁵ dielectric members, since the fixed contacts 62 and 63 with a bridging contact member 75 are the only metallic or conducting elements exposed within the said chamber.

The opposite side of the contact supporting ‘-³ member 70 provides arc-like flanges 81 and 82 circumferentially spaced by notches 83 and 84 as illustrated in Fig. 5. This makes provision for a dove-tail like engagement with the driving tongues 49 and 50 of the key cyl^J inder 21. It will be observed from the illustration in Fig. 5, that the contact support 70 is substantially cupped in form, with portions of the side walls removed affording the notches 83 and 84, and that the bottom 85 ¹ thereof provides a seat against which a contact urging spring 86 may be placed. When assembled, the other end of the spring seats against the key cylinder 21 at the bottom of the bore 45.

It will be observed from the description that has gone before, that the frame 20 and switch back 55 afford a mortise and tenon like engagement due to the tongues 39 and 40 having interfitting relation with the notches ^J 65 and 66. Thus, a structure of smooth cylindrical and continuous contour is formed when the frame 20 is fitted with the switch back 55. A protective shell 90 that nicely .. fits about the structure is provided and has a plurality of tangs or bendable tongues at either end thereof. At one end of the shell 90, tangs 91 and 92 are struck radially inward into recesses 93 and 94 that may have a convenient location in the flats 30. This operates to retain the shell 90 about the frame 20, 70 and renders access to the interior of the switch mechanism relatively inconvenient, since the tongues 91 and 92 cannot be easily removed or pried out from the said recesses. The shell 90 is sufficiently extensive to em- 75 brace the whole of the rear portion of the frame 20 and the switch back 55, and has the tangs 95 and 96 bent against the rear face of the switch back 55 to aid in maintaining it in assembled relation with the frame 20. ⁸⁰Since the frame 90 is of hardened material the tongues 91, 92, 95 and 96 are not easily bent out of engagement from their cooperating position, thus precluding unauthorized access to the interior of the switch structure. ⁸⁵

In assembling the switch it will be found convenient to first provide the frame and the protective shell in their assembled form with the tangs 95 and 96 bent outwardly. The switch back 55 carrying the contact sup- ⁹⁰port 70 with its bridging contact 75 interposed therebetween, is then arranged to receive the spring 86 against the head 85 of the member 70. Note at this point that the switch back 55 with its assembled contact ⁹³actuating member 70 substantially encloses the circuit interrupting means within a chamber of dielectric material, and that manipulation of the contacting elements may be had by rotating the member 70 within the ^iC0flange 58.

By means of the key 22, the key cylinder is manipulated so that the several tongues of the frame and key cylinder will be oriented to a position in mating engagement with the respective notches of the switch back and contact support, and the frame 20 with its protective shell 90 is then passed over the switch back and assembled contact actuator, until the tongues 39 and 40 are seated within *⁸the notches 65 and 66, whereupon the retaining tongues 95 and 96 are bent against the switch back. The structure thus assembled is represented by the sectional views Figs. 2 and 4, where it will be observed that the contact support 70 is disposed within the annular chamber 36 hereinbefore referred to and is engaged by the spring 86 which urges the contact support with its bridging member 75 into engagement with the switch ’° back.

It is obvious from the description that has preceded that manipulation of the key 22 will rotate the cylinder 21 within the frame 20, and that the dove-tail like connection of the key cylinder 21 with the contact support 70, due to the tongues 49 and 50 mating with the notches 83 and 84. will thereby drive the contact actuator 70, and that through the tongues 73 and 74 of the contact 75 mating ί,853,075 with the recesses 71 and 72 of the block 70, that the contact 75 will be caused to move over the switch back from the detent provisions to the fixed contact members, and vice 5 versa, at whatever the option of the person.

The dove-tail provisions of the key cylinder and switch back are such that lineal motion of the back relative to the /key cylinder is permissible so as to allow the contact 75 to 10 ride over irregularities of surface of the switch back, or to move axially with respect to the mechanism, from the lowest point of the detent provisions 60 and 61 to the highest point of the contacts 62 and 63, and yet main15 tain the driving engagement between the key cylinder and the contact supporting member.

While the form of embodiment of the/present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes 20 a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.