Quick-make-quick-break microswitch with wedge profile at the contact arm pivot-mounted in the switch

• US 5,821,481 A
• Filed: 06/20/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neubauer, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/817,466
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4, 200/16 R-16 D, 200/402, 200/405, 200/410, 200/416, 200/417, 200/431, 200/434, 200/435, 200/437-439, 200/449, 200/468, 200/520, 200/533, 200/341
• US Class Current: 200/4
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 5/045 making use of cooperating spring loaded wedging or camming parts between operating member and contact structure

Abstract

A snap switch having spring a spring energy store and wedge profile. In conventional switches, the wedge profile was attached to the end of the contact arm, which forms the moving switching element. Heating of the contact arm due to large, switched electrical currents results in heating of the wedge profile and thus to a possible retardation of the switching, which, in turn, contributes to an additional heating of the wedge profile. The wedge profile is positioned where a low heat effect is expected. Thus, the wedge profile is seated under pretension at the switching element, where the contact arm forms a single sheet metal part whose one end senses the wedge profile.

Claims

1. An electrical switch, comprising:

a housing, having a contact arm movable between two terminal positions, wherein said arm is pivotally mounted in the housing and includes a convex sensing surface and a moving switch element,

at least one fixed contact which is rigidly mounted in the housing and is capable of being contacted by said moving switch element, wherein the switch element, by means of relative motion between said sensing surface and a control profile, causes a switch of the contact arm under tension of a pretensioning spring, wherein the switch element is provided with a control profile spring mounted to the switch element by means of a pretension, wherein said convex sensing surface is connected as a single piece to the contact arm, and acts on the control profile wherein the control profile is equipped with side surface guide jaws and secure said switching element against a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the switching element.

2. The electrical switch according to claim 1, wherein the control profile designed as a wedge profile has a guide shoulder pointing away from the switching element, which ensures both a control of the wedge profile in the switching element, as well as the holding of a pretensioning spring.

3. The electrical switch according to claim 2, wherein the guide shoulder is a pot-shaped hollow body which holds an interior the pretensioning spring and whose outer surface is used as a guide surface within a corresponding guide recess in the switching element.

4. An electrical switch, comprising:

a housing, having a contact arm moving between two terminal positions, wherein said arm is pivotally mounted in the housing and includes a convex sensing surface and a moving switch element,

at least one fixed contact which is rigidly mounted in the housing and is capable of being contacted by said moving switch element, wherein the switch element, by means of relative motion between said sensing surface and a control profile, causes a switch of the contact arm under tension of a pretensioning spring, wherein the switch element is provided with a control profile spring mounted to the switch element by means of a pretension, wherein said convex sensing surface is connected as a single piece to the contact arm, and acts on the control profile, wherein the convex surface of said control profile is formed by spaced apart side surface guide jaws.

5. An electrical switch, comprising:

a housing, having a contact arm moving between two terminal positions, wherein said arm is pivotally mounted in the housing and includes a convex sensing surface and a moving switch element,

at least one fixed contact which is rigidly mounted in the housing and is capable of being contacted by said moving switch element, wherein the switch element, by means of relative motion between said sensing surface and a control profile, causes a switch of the contact arm under tension of a pretensioning spring, wherein the switch element is provided with a control profile spring mounted to the switch element by means of a pretension, wherein said convex sensing surface is connected as a single piece to the contact arm, and acts on the control profile, wherein the convex surface of said control profile includes a guide shoulder having guide flanks.

6. The electrical switch according to claim 5, wherein the guide flanks include abutment surfaces.