US3674969A - Stainless steel snap acting mechanism with low resistance electrical path - Google Patents

Stainless steel snap acting mechanism with low resistance electrical path Download PDF

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Publication number
US3674969A
US3674969A US168915A US3674969DA US3674969A US 3674969 A US3674969 A US 3674969A US 168915 A US168915 A US 168915A US 3674969D A US3674969D A US 3674969DA US 3674969 A US3674969 A US 3674969A
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United States
Prior art keywords
elements
snap acting
ribbon
stainless steel
flat element
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Expired - Lifetime
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US168915A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gordon A Engle
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Honeywell Inc
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Honeywell Inc
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Publication date
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H5/00—Snap-action arrangements, i.e. in which during a single opening operation or a single closing operation energy is first stored and then released to produce or assist the contact movement
    • H01H5/04—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members
    • H01H5/18—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members by flexing of blade springs

Definitions

  • Snap acting electrical switches of the general type disclosed in the Readeker US. Pat. No. 2,701,475 have been on the scene for a great number of years. Such switches can be constructed with snap acting mechanisms which provide excellent electrical and mechanical characteristics.
  • the snap acting mechanism is formed of beryllium copper, it exhibits superior current carrying capacity and repeatability of actuating and de-actuating points.
  • beryllium copper snap acting mechanisms are susceptible to corrosion, due to humidity, electrical arcing and the like, which can affect mechanical characteristics. Further, as with all electrical mechanical devices, such mechanisms have a finite electrical life. As is usually the case, work is constantly being done in an effort to find expedients which will retain the desirable features and overcome the shortcomings inherent in the beryllium copper approach.
  • a snap acting electrical switch including a current carrying snap acting mechanism formed of stainless steel having a material of higher conductivity disposed on a portion thereof so as to provide a device exhibiting long mechanical life as compared to beryllium copper and improved current carrying capacity as compared to stainless steel per se.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snap acting member incorporating the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a member of FIG. 1 taken along the FIG. 3 is a perspective cutaway cal switch incorporating the snap acting member of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 a snap acting spring member 10 generally of the form disclosed in the forementioned Readeker patent is shown.
  • the spring member 10 includes a longer center element 12 having a through opening 14 at extremity 12a and a pair of shorter outer elements 16 all joined together at extremity 18 from which a contact 20 is supported.
  • the spring member 10 is formed of stainless steel preferably of the grade known in the trade as 301 although other grades may be equally satisfactory.
  • a portion of the center element 12 and extremity 18 of the stainless steel spring member 10 is removed, reference now being made to both FIG. 1 and 2, resulting in channel sections 12b and 18a in extremities 12a and 18, respectively, of the center element.
  • a ribbon 22 of material having an electrical conductivity superior to stainless steel, preferably fine silver, is disposed over the area from which the portion of the stainless steel has been removed. The ribbon 22 is then secured to the stainless steel spring member 10 by difl usion bonding the adjacent surfaces together, as is well-known in the art.
  • the resulting stainless steel spring member 10 and ribbon 22 combination is so formed that the thickness of the center element 12 with the ribbon in place is the same as the outer elements 16.
  • the spring member 10 of FIG. 1 is formed into a snap acting mechanism as shown in FIG. 3 where the center element 12 is secured in place in switch case 26 by means of fastener 28 passing through opening 14 and being upset against washer 30. Also secured in place under the spring member 10 by this expedient is U-shaped anchor member 32 which includes grooves 32a in which the extremities of outer elements 16 are pivotally supported.
  • Contact 20 of the spring member 10 normally engages fixed contact 34 and upon snap over of the portion of the snap acting lines 2-2 thereof; and view of a snap acting electrispring member 10 engages lower fixed contact 36 both of which are appropriately secured to switch case 26.
  • the snap acting mechanism formed by the spring member 10 includes a tension member comprised of the substantially flat center element 12 and two compression members comprised of the outer elements 16 which are displaced from a normal planer configuration to an installed arcuate position.
  • a tension member comprised of the substantially flat center element 12
  • two compression members comprised of the outer elements 16 which are displaced from a normal planer configuration to an installed arcuate position.
  • the center element is moved by a plunger, not shown, located in a switch cover, not shown, in the vicinity of the area marked with an "X as is well-known in the art.
  • the center element 12 remains substantially flat.
  • the ribbon 22 thus does not give rise to anelasticity and consequently does not adversely affect the spring" characteristics of the snap acting mechanism formed of the spring member 10 as it is located in a substantially inactive area of the spring" system.
  • a snap acting electrical switch including: a base member on which a pair of spaced stop portions are located, one of said stop portions being a fixed contact; and a snap acting mechanism formed of conductive strip material including integral first and second elements, discrete first extremities of said elements being assembled with support portions of said base member so as to place one of said elements in tension and the other of said elements in compression; one of said elements when in the assembled condition being substantially flat and remaining substantially fiat during actuation and de-actuation of said mechanism, the support portion for said flat element being a fixed terminal; the other of said elements when in the assembled condition having portions displaced from a planer configuration; said snap acting mechanism incorporating a moving contact portion proximate interconnected second extremities of said elements for movement between said pair of stop portions upon actuation and de-actuation of said mechanism; the improvement comprising said strip being formed of stainless steel and having a ribbon of material of higher conductivity joined to a surface of said flat element extending between the first extremity thereof and said moving contact so as to provide a lower resistance electrical path between

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
US168915A 1971-08-04 1971-08-04 Stainless steel snap acting mechanism with low resistance electrical path Expired - Lifetime US3674969A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16891571A 1971-08-04 1971-08-04

Publications (1)

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US3674969A true US3674969A (en) 1972-07-04

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US168915A Expired - Lifetime US3674969A (en) 1971-08-04 1971-08-04 Stainless steel snap acting mechanism with low resistance electrical path

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3674969A (fr)
JP (2) JPS4825184A (fr)
AU (1) AU463239B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA953762A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5245067A (en) * 1975-10-06 1977-04-08 Nippon Electric Co Supporting type fixed contact spring
US5274204A (en) * 1991-09-30 1993-12-28 George Mauro Pressure actuated electrical contact switch

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5251350A (en) * 1975-10-15 1977-04-25 Ranbakushii Lab Ltd Process for preparing aminobenzophenone
CH632988A5 (en) * 1976-01-29 1982-11-15 Sandoz Ag Process for preparing derivatives of alkylaminobenzophenone, alkylaminobenzonitrile and anthranilic acid

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2900476A (en) * 1956-04-17 1959-08-18 Era Patents Ltd Electrical switching apparatus
US3564184A (en) * 1969-01-27 1971-02-16 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2900476A (en) * 1956-04-17 1959-08-18 Era Patents Ltd Electrical switching apparatus
US3564184A (en) * 1969-01-27 1971-02-16 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5245067A (en) * 1975-10-06 1977-04-08 Nippon Electric Co Supporting type fixed contact spring
US5274204A (en) * 1991-09-30 1993-12-28 George Mauro Pressure actuated electrical contact switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4418672A (en) 1974-01-10
JPS56105220U (fr) 1981-08-17
JPS4825184A (fr) 1973-04-02
AU463239B2 (en) 1975-07-17
CA953762A (en) 1974-08-27

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