Abstract: A continuous-current switch for shorting at least one superconducting magnet winding is provided with at least two contacts, each of which comprises several superconducting conductor sections which are arranged parallel to one another. The superconducting conductor sections are connected to support elements and are cooled by a cryogenic coolant. An actuating device is provided for joining the superconducting conductor sections together with a predetermined contact pressure. In order to ensure contact resistances are as low as possible for large superconducting magnets, the invention provides that the superconducting sections are arranged at the surfaces of the contacts facing each other in at least substantially parallel planes whereby the superconducting conductor sections of the first contact cross the superconducting conductor sections of the other contact.

Abstract: An arrangement including an insulative support column provides independent rotary and linear drive outputs for the operation of electrical switches, circuit interrupters and/or disconnects or the like. A first, linear drive linkage provides translating motion at a first output in response to linear translating motion at a first input. The linear drive arrangement is provided by an elongated, insulative operating member that is disposed within an elongated bore of the insulative support column, with the operating member extending through the top and bottom ends of the column. A second, rotary drive output is provided by rotation of the support column. The column fixedly carries a lower base member which is rotatably supported within a base housing. The operating member extends through and exits the base member and cooperates with a bearing carried by the base member. The lower end of the operating member is coupled to the linear drive linkage input.

Abstract: The present invention is comprised of a dielectric case having defined in it a cylindrical cavity with a larger diameter counterbore in its upper portion. Slots extending across the case and through the cavity have the same depth as the cavity and carry wire conductors whose diameter is less than the difference between the depth of the cavity and the depth of the counterbore. Located medially in the bottom of the cavity is a raised bridge which has a height approximately equal to the amount the diameter of the wire conductors is less than the difference between the depth of the cavity and the depth of the counterbore. Thus the top surfaces of the wires lie below the counterbore proximate the periphery of the cavity and lie approximately co-planar with the lip of the counterbore at the center of the cavity. An electrically conductive deformable dome having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the counterbore is secured in the cavity by a piece of transparent tape adhered to the top of the case.

Abstract: A radio frequency coaxial switch includes a movable contact piece and at least one stationary contact roll which is supported at one end portion of a leaf spring. The other end of the leaf spring is connected to an inner conductor of an associated coaxial connection. The leaf spring prestresses the contact roll in direction of the movable contact piece so as to guarantee a secure contact between these parts.

Abstract: A lock and method for locking circuit breakers, as well as a tool for making such circuit breaker locks. The circuit breaker lock comprises a U-shaped member with a portion of one of the arms of the U being bent away from the other out of the plane of the U, the bent portion forming a foot. The other of the arms is insertable into a bore which extends through the toggle switch on a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker is locked by placing the foot against a portion of the circuit breaker housing such that the switch cannot be urged from its locked position. The tool used for making such circuit breaker locks has first and second jaws which are movable toward and away from each other. A U-shaped bracket is mounted on the first jaw, which bracket receives the second jaw as it is moved toward the first. The bracket has two spaced supports which receive the second jaw therebetween when it is moved toward the first and project away from the first jaw.

Abstract: In a switching device for an end snap-action switch which includes a support, a displaceable actuating push rod and contact bridges two double-armed pivotable levers are connected to the support to move the contact bridges in two opposite directions within a housing.

Abstract: The switch guard assembly is comprised of an outer plate and a back plate. The switch guard assembly also involves a housing that is mounted against a panel, such as a cinderblock wall or a door jamb. The panel has inner and outer panel faces. The housing assembly is resistant to unauthorized access to the interior thereof. The outer plate and back plate are mounted respectively against the inner and outer panel faces. Both the outer plate and the back plate have openings. A cinderblock or door panel is provided with an opening that will eventually communicate with the openings of the outer and back plates. A pipe includes first and second ends located in the panel openings with the first pipe end passing through and beyond the opening in the outer plate. The second pipe end passes through and beyond the opening in the back plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a toggle type snap switch having an operating arm and a switching arm with a toggle spring hingedly connected between these arms. In one embodiment of the invention the toggle spring is in the form of a plate with a window in one end thereof. The switching arm has separate, relatively moveable snap arm and switching arm sections and a hinge connection is provided between the toggle spring and the switching arm section. The window in the toggle spring has upper and lower edges alternately abuttingly engageable with the free end of the snap arm section for opposite snap positions of the operating arm. The window may have laterally extended slot sections to form a part of the hinge connection between the toggle spring and the switching arm section.

Abstract: By articulating the neutral-pole switching element in a multi-pole circuit breaker, providing spring biasing to urge the two elements into a pre-determined position approximating alignment, advancing the neutral pole switching element with respect to the other switching elements and providing fixed contact elements which frictionally engage opposite sides of the neutral-pole switching contact in the closed position, the closing of the neutral circuit precedes the closing of the live circuits and the opening of the neutral circuit lags the opening of the live circuits, thus preventing arcing and transient damage to loads on the circuit.

Abstract: An auxiliary bearing for use in a keyboard to prevent binding of keys having irregularly-shaped keycaps. The irregular keycap is mounted on a plunger which reciprocates in a main switch housing. The switch housing is attached to the keyboard. The keycap also has a coupler attached to its underside. The coupler engages a bearing in the form of a sleeve which supports the coupler along a portion of its length sufficient to preclude the coupler from tilting in the sleeve. The bearing member is mounted on an auxiliary housing which in turn is attached to the keyboard. The connection of the bearing to the auxiliary housing permits the bearing to shift laterally on the housing to permit alignment of the coupler and sleeve despite variations in the auxiliary housing location and the keycap location. But the bearing is prevented from tilting or skewing in the auxiliary housing by a set of cooperating hooks on the housing and bearing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mercury switch (10) including an outer metal housing (12) having a closed end and an open end. A baffle member (14) is positioned in the housing (12) immediate of the closed and open ends. The baffle member (14) defines a first bore (32), a second bore (34) of increasing diameter in a direction toward the open end of the housing (12), and a third bore (36). An electrode assembly (16) is partially inserted into the open end of the housing (12). The electrode assembly includes a solid electrode (40) having a stem portion (42) and a head portion (44) with a truncated conical configuration of decreasing diameter in a direction toward the closed end of the housing (12) and having a recessed surface 102 providing a mercury wetting reservoir. The baffle member (14) and the truncated conical head portion (44) cooperate to provide contact between a first supply of mercury (30a) and the solid electrode (40) at a location removed from an insulating member (46).

Abstract: This telescopic isolating switch is made from nestable tubular members (10, 11', 12') including a base member (10) connected to an electrical connection point, intermediate members (11', 12'), and an end member supporting an electrical contact. Each intermediate member (11', 12') contains two pulley wheels (110, 111) fixed close to respective ends thereof, together with an endless loop (114) passing over the two pulley wheels (110, 111) inside the member and attached at two diametrically opposite points (116, 117) to the ends of the two adjacent members (10, 12'). The lower pulley wheel (110) of the intermediate member (11') which is adjacent to the base member (10) being driven through the base member (10) by means of a gear system slidingly engaged on a rotary fluted shaft (104) which is fixed inside the base member (10) and which is driven by a drive motor.

Abstract: A molded insulating switch housing (2) has a rectangular opening (2a) in an end wall thereof through which an actuator (4) having a rectangular cross-sectional shape extends for linear reciprocable movement and is biased to an extended position with respect to the housing. A trigger operator member (6) is affixed to the outer end of the actuator (4) and has a recess (6b) open toward the end wall of the housing (2). A continuous rectangular flange (2b) surrounds the opening (2a) in the end wall and is telescopically received within the recess (6b) of the trigger operator (6) to form a dust and foreign contaminant material seal for the switch.

Abstract: A light switch extension for use with a conventional toggle type wall switch permits ready on and off operation of the switch by children, handicapped individuals and others. The extension includes a flexible component which engages the light switch toggle at least on the upper and lower surfaces thereof and is secured there by a pin passing through the toggle or by alternate devices such as cooperating bosses and recesses. The flexible component is secured to a vertically depending operator assembly by a suitable fastener such as a screw or by other agencies such as an adhesive. A first portion of the operator assembly is a rigid rod and the second portion is a flexible element such as a helical spring which is capable of axially transmitting sufficient force to the flexible component and switch toggle to turn it on and off but which is radially or laterally flexible such that radially or laterally applied forces will harmlessly deflect it.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a bipartite keyboard housing the lower part of the keyboard has clearances at at least one side, preferably at the front side, hooks secured to the upper part of the keyboard extending into the clearances. A lock rail is displaceably disposed in a channel communicating with the clearances, being provided with obliquely upwardly bent contact tongues at the spacing of the hooks and with contact humps. A web is situated in the middle of the sides of the lower part of the keyboard, preferably at the front side, and an opening is situated in the lock rail, these being aligned with one another such that the lock rail is displaceable by means of a tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device incorporating at least one electrical switch which can be actuated abruptly, for closing and opening, by a single rotary control cam.The control device incorporates a control cam 1 possessing a plurality of identical abrupt-drop notches 3 separated respectively by solid parts 4 identical to one another. A lever system is arranged between this cam 1 and the reversing switch 2. It comprises a first and a second lever 21 and 22 each of which pivots about a fixed axle 15 and the noses 31, 32 of which interact with the profile of the cam 1 under the action of a spring 8. A link 20 is articulated, on the one hand, at 21a on the first lever 21 and, on the other hand, at 22a on the second lever 22. It possesses a relief part 23 interacting with the reversing switch 22. When the nose 31 drops into a notch 3, with the nose 32 remaining on a solid part 4, the reversing switch is released, 6a-6b being closed and 6c-6d being open.

Abstract: A switch for making and breaking a connection between a load circuit and a power line, with two parallelogrammatic linkages terminating in scissorlike contactor pairs, has limitedly swivelable and/or extensible cross-links interconnecting aligned pivotal junctions of the two linkages to provide them with a certain relative mobility. In an operating position, part-cylindrical armatures detachably secured to the two contactor pairs grip respective portions of an elongate countercontact fixedly suspended between a pair of rings attached to the power line, this countercontact comprising a metallic supporting tube also provided with part-cylindrical armatures in the region of the contactor pairs. Each armature may comprise several metallic layers on a base of copper, namely an inner layer of silver, a protective layer of tin on top thereof, and an outer silver layer. The armatures could also be made, at least in part, of a scorchproof material such as silver/cesium oxide.

Abstract: A high-voltage switch having a housing supported on a pin insulator and two movable switching pieces mounted in the housing. The movable switch pieces of the switch are coupled via actuating parts to a drive transmission element, a crankshaft, for example, which is guided through the pin insulator to a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes the crankshaft which is rotated by one crank whose movement is controlled by another crank. The movable switch pieces are very heavy and must be moved back and forth between ON and OFF switch positions. The drive mechanism provides two precisely located stable positions corresponding to the ON and OFF switch conditions and the heavy switch components are moved such that their motion is damped as they approach one or the other stable position whereby the need for additional damping means for arresting the movement of the switch is avoided. The switch is suitable as a multi-phase generator switch having several switch poles.

Abstract: A wall switch actuator is provided in the form of a decorative plaque having an attractive external design. The actuator is pivoted around a single pivot point adapted to being substituted for the standard upper screw on the standard two-screw wall switch plate. A unique curved cam section is provided within the plaque at a known distance from and angled to the pivoting screw for actuating a standard wall switch from a first position to a second position as the plaque is rotated about the pivot screw from a first rotated position to a second rotated position. Pull cords are provided at two extremeties of the plaque permitting the plaque to be rotated from the first rotated position to the second rotated position by pulling on the selected pull cord thus actuating the light switch. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses child's figures for decorating the plaques and provides pull cords permitting a small child to safely turn on or turn off a light in a child's room.

Abstract: A conventional rocker switch case has a secondary pair of aligned openings to pivotably receive a uniquely configured rocker in which the lost motion spring couples the rocker to a conventional floating contact and also serves to return the rocker from one of two limit positions to the other limit position. The momentary switch thereby provided utilizes a floating contact rather than a pivotal lever type movable contact of the non-sliding variety.