US3858021A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical switching device having self-cleaning contactor elements
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-01
•
Granted: 1974-12-31
•
Expires: 1993-03-01
Abstract
Abstract An electrical switching device which is capable of effecting continuous self-cleaning of its contactor elements, each time it is operated, includes a plurality of arcuate contactor elements and respective opposed linear contactor elements, for accomplishing make, break and transfer switching functions. The arcuate contactor elements are mounted on a carrier member and have a first preselected radius. In effecting a switching operation, the carrier member is moved linearly and is simultaneously rotated about a second preselected radius which is different from the first preselected radius, to cause simultaneous rotation and sliding movement of the arcuate contactor elements relative to the linear contactor elements, thereby to effect a continuous controlled wiping and cleaning action between the contactor elements, and thus the establishment of good electrical contact therebetween. Either the arcuate contactor elements or the linear contactor elements may be independently resilient in nature.
Inventors
- 👤 J Brandlein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/56; H01H13/58; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/16; H01H1/18; H01H1/24; H01H1/26; H01H1/28; H01H1/36; H01H1/40; H01H1/403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A contact making device, which comprises: a substantially linear contactor element mounted in a substantially fixed position; an arcuate movable contactor element mounted in coplanar relationship with respect to said linear contactor element, for engaging and making contact with said linear contactor element; and means for rotating said arcuate contactor element while imparting a translating motion to said arcuate contactor element, to rotate and slide said arcuate contactor element simultaneously and continuously on said linear contactor element, to effect contact between said contactor elements while cleaning said contactor elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A contact making device, which comprises: a substantially linear contactor element mounted in a substantially fixed position; an arcuate movable contactor element mounted in coplanar relationship with respect to said linear contactor element, for engaging and making contact with said linear contactor element; and means for rotating said arcuate contactor element while imparting a translating motion to said arcuate contactor element, to rotate and slide said arcuate contactor element simultaneously and continuously on said linear contactor element, to effect contact between said contactor elements while cleaning said contactor elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
A contact making device, which comprises: a substantially linear contactor element: a carrier member: an arcuate contactor element mounted on said carrier member and having a first preselected radius; means for imparting a translating motion to said carrier member and said arcuate contactor element; and means for causing rotation of said carrier member about a second preselected radius which is different from the first preselected radius of said arcuate contactor element, during the translating movement of said carrier member and said arcuate contactor element, to cause simultaneous rotation and sliding movement of said arcuate contactor element on said linear contactor element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A contact making device, which comprises: a substantially linear contactor element: a carrier member: an arcuate contactor element mounted on said carrier member and having a first preselected radius; means for imparting a translating motion to said carrier member and said arcuate contactor element; and means for causing rotation of said carrier member about a second preselected radius which is different from the first preselected radius of said arcuate contactor element, during the translating movement of said carrier member and said arcuate contactor element, to cause simultaneous rotation and sliding movement of said arcuate contactor element on said linear contactor element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A contact making device, as recited in claim 2, with further comprises: means for biasing said arcuate contactor element and said linear contactor element into engagement with one another during the translating and rotary movement of said carrier member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A contact making device, as recited in claim 2, wherein the device is an electrical switching device and which further comprises: a plurality of linear contactor elements; and a plurality of arcuate contactor elements on said carrier member in opposed relationship to respective ones of said linear contactor elements for engagement therewith, said respective contactor elements forming sets in which at least one of said contactor elements of each set is resilient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A contact making device as recited in claim 2, in which: the radius of said arcuate contactor element is less than the radius of rotation of said carrier member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A contact making device as recited in claim 2, in which: the radius of said arcuate contactor element is greater than the radius of rotation of said carrier member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A contact making device, as recited in claim 2, which further comprises: a support member having a planar surface portion on which said linear contactor element is mounted; reaction surface means offset with respect to the planar surface portion of said support member; a flange on said carrier member, said flange having an arcuate peripheral segment of the second preselected radius and drivingly engaged with said offset surface reaction means to cause the rotation of said carrier member and the simultaneous and continuous rotation and sliding of said arcuate contactor element on said linear contactor element when the translating motion is imparted to said carrier member by said motion imparting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A contact making device, as recited in claim 7, in which: said offset reaction surface means is constructed in the form of a gear rack; and the peripheral segment of said flange on said carrier member has teeth receivable in the gear rack formed by said reaction surface means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
A contact making device, as recited in claim 2, which further comprises: a support member having a planar surface portion on which said linear contactor element is mounted; means for mounting said carrier member on said support member for rotary movement about the second preselected radius and for linear movement perpendicular to the planar surface portion of said support member; means for rotating said carrier member about the second preselected radius to move said carrier member relative to the planar surface portion of said support member; and resilient means for causing linear movement of said carrier member perpendicular to the planar surface portion of said support member during the rotational movement of said carrier member, so that said arcuate contactor element simultaneously and continuously rotates and slides on said linear contactor element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A contact making device, as recited in claim 9, in which: said linear contactor element is resilient and has at least one free end portion projecting from the planar surface portion of said support member for engagement by said arcuate contactor element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1304377A
Cited
US1876874A
Cited
US2951130A
Cited
GB956565A
Cited
US3168627A
Cited
GB1093067A
Cited
US3384850A
Cited
US3486143A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |