US3600537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switch
Assignee: MECHANICAL ENTERPRISES Inc
•
Filing: 1969-04-15
•
Granted: 1971-08-17
•
Expires: 1989-04-15
Abstract
Abstract An electrical switch including a resilient deformable tube filled with an electrically conductive liquid and a pair of relatively movable pinching elements disposed on opposite sides of the tube. The elements are mounted for movement between tube pinching and tube releasing positions, whereby in the tube pinching position the liquid in the tube is parted to open an electrical circuit. The switch also includes a spring-loaded snap-action mechanism operably connected to at least one of the elements for snapping the same from one of its positions to the other.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H Twyford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 01:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H29/00; H01H29/004; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/26; H01H13/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A normally open circuit switch comprising: a deformable tube filled with an electrically conductive liquid; an actuator element having a pinching surface disposed adjacent said tube, said element being reciprocable along a path extending transversely of the tube and having a manually engageable portion remote from the tube and a guide on the opposite side of the tube from said manually engageable portion; a pinching head disposed on the opposite side of the tube from said pinching surface, said head being slideably mounted in said guide to be reciprocable along said path, said head including a pinching segment presenting an apex extending transversely of the tube for engaging the tube in transverse line contact; an elongated longitudinally boweD leaf spring operably engaged with said head and extending transversely of said path, said spring extending adjacent the guide on the opposite side of the head from said tube, said spring being normally bowed in one direction along the path for urging the head in said direction to pinch said tube against said pinching surface and being bowed in the opposite direction along said path in response to movement of said pinching surface for permitting movement of said head in the opposite direction; and return spring means operably engaging the actuator element and urging said actuator element in said one direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A normally open circuit switch comprising: a deformable tube filled with an electrically conductive liquid; an actuator element having a pinching surface disposed adjacent said tube, said element being reciprocable along a path extending transversely of the tube and having a manually engageable portion remote from the tube and a guide on the opposite side of the tube from said manually engageable portion; a pinching head disposed on the opposite side of the tube from said pinching surface, said head being slideably mounted in said guide to be reciprocable along said path, said head including a pinching segment presenting an apex extending transversely of the tube for engaging the tube in transverse line contact; an elongated longitudinally boweD leaf spring operably engaged with said head and extending transversely of said path, said spring extending adjacent the guide on the opposite side of the head from said tube, said spring being normally bowed in one direction along the path for urging the head in said direction to pinch said tube against said pinching surface and being bowed in the opposite direction along said path in response to movement of said pinching surface for permitting movement of said head in the opposite direction; and return spring means operably engaging the actuator element and urging said actuator element in said one direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
174 words
A switch comprising: a deformable tube filled with an electrically conductive liquid; a stationary pinching element disposed adjacent said tube; an elongated cricket spring member which is normally transversely bowed throughout its length, said spring member including a second pinching element located at one end thereof, said spring member being disposed with said second pinching element located adjacent said tube on the opposite side thereof from said stationary pinching element, the opposite end of said spring member being relatively fixed in a position urging the second pinching element toward the stationary pinching element to pinch the tube therebetween and part said liquid; a pushbutton actuator having an apex engageable with the transverse bow of said spring member for collapsing the same to permit separation of the pinching elements and release said tube; and fulcrum means disposed between said second pinching element and said apex of said pushbutton actuator in a position supporting said spring member and causing said second pinching element to rapidly pivot about said fulcrum means upon collapse of said spring member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
174 words
A switch comprising: a deformable tube filled with an electrically conductive liquid; a stationary pinching element disposed adjacent said tube; an elongated cricket spring member which is normally transversely bowed throughout its length, said spring member including a second pinching element located at one end thereof, said spring member being disposed with said second pinching element located adjacent said tube on the opposite side thereof from said stationary pinching element, the opposite end of said spring member being relatively fixed in a position urging the second pinching element toward the stationary pinching element to pinch the tube therebetween and part said liquid; a pushbutton actuator having an apex engageable with the transverse bow of said spring member for collapsing the same to permit separation of the pinching elements and release said tube; and fulcrum means disposed between said second pinching element and said apex of said pushbutton actuator in a position supporting said spring member and causing said second pinching element to rapidly pivot about said fulcrum means upon collapse of said spring member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein is included tube-compressing mechanism for changing the pressure of the liquid in the tube to obtain different operation in response to movement of said actuator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said compressing mechanism includes an adjustable screw device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein a portion of the spring is movable into pressure-applying relationship relative to said tube after collapse of said spring whereby to increase the pressure of the fluid in the tube to assist the opening of the same after it is released by the elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
207 words
A switch comprising: a housing; a deformable tube filled with an electrically conductive liquid mounted within said housing; structure operable to pinch said tube to part the liquid and open an electrical circuit including a pair of spaced pinching elements disposed on opposite sides of the tube, said elements being movable relatively in a direction toward and away from one another between tube pinching and tube-releasing positions; spring-loaded snap-action mechanism operably connected to at least one of the elements and actuatable to snap said one element from one of said positions to the other; an overcenter device forming a part of said mechanism including an elongated bowed spring having at least one end fixed relative to said housing and a portion of said spring remote from said fixed end engaging said one element with said tube in said tube-pinching position; an actuator movably mounted relative to said housing and disposed relative to the bow of said spring to engage and deflect said bow upon movement of said actuator and thereby snap said one element from one of said positions to the other; and means for instantaneously increasing the pressure of the liquid in the tube at the moment the one element is shifted into said releasing position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
207 words
A switch comprising: a housing; a deformable tube filled with an electrically conductive liquid mounted within said housing; structure operable to pinch said tube to part the liquid and open an electrical circuit including a pair of spaced pinching elements disposed on opposite sides of the tube, said elements being movable relatively in a direction toward and away from one another between tube pinching and tube-releasing positions; spring-loaded snap-action mechanism operably connected to at least one of the elements and actuatable to snap said one element from one of said positions to the other; an overcenter device forming a part of said mechanism including an elongated bowed spring having at least one end fixed relative to said housing and a portion of said spring remote from said fixed end engaging said one element with said tube in said tube-pinching position; an actuator movably mounted relative to said housing and disposed relative to the bow of said spring to engage and deflect said bow upon movement of said actuator and thereby snap said one element from one of said positions to the other; and means for instantaneously increasing the pressure of the liquid in the tube at the moment the one element is shifted into said releasing position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1795907A
Cited
US2024362A
Cited
US2332883A
Cited
US2374435A
Cited
US2420880A
Cited
US2512306A
Cited
US2574869A
Cited
US2720562A
Cited
US3133170A
Cited
US3177327A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-16 | 1975-02-15 | 1975-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-16 | 1979-02-15 | 1979-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-16 | 1983-02-15 | 1983-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |