Abstract: An insulating rib (42) is provided between surfaces (41a) of adjacent bus bar-receiving portions (41) of a box body (23) with which circuit terminal connection portions (25c) of adjacent bus bars (25) are held in contact, respectively. Each insulating rib (42) has an internal space (43) communicating with the exterior of a box body (23) of a plug box (20).

Abstract: A key activated switch matrix on a mother board that enables a dedicated key when inserted to select a subset of selectable parameters and thereby configure the mother board without further operator intervention. A housing having a slot is positioned on the mother board. An array of conductor pairs is positioned in the slot one element of each pair on either side of the slot with one end of each element of a conductor pair extending through the bottom of the housing to make electrical contact with wiring of the mother board and the other end of each element formed so as to make contact with its mating conductor element. A key is provided that consists of a single electrically insulating body having dimensions for fitting into the slot between the pairs of conductor elements and allowing certain of the conductor pairs to make electrical contact and precluding other pairs from making contact.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a transfer switch having a stationary frame and a front terminal matrix for connection to circuit boards undergoing test. There are two stationary connectors mounted on the switch frame. A platform is supported by the frame for reciprocating movement between first and second positions. Such platform has two movable connectors thereon and when the platform is in the first position, one of the movable connectors engages or "plug-connects" to one of the stationary connectors. When the platform is in the second position, the other movable connector plug connects to the other stationary connector. The stationary connectors are electrically coupled to respective test devices, e.g., a load board and a signal bus. Thus, the boards under test can be connected to one or the other of the test devices by shifting the position of the platform. A new method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A slidable element is provided for easy positioning in a guide slot when a handle is withdrawn. A handle 40 is inclinably provided on a mount body 35 bearing a movable electrode 31 by a support shaft 45. The support shaft 45 is loosely movable with respect to the mount body 35 by being fixed to the handle 40 and being inserted through oblong holes 42 formed in bearing portions 41 of the mount body 35. In order to withdraw the handle 40, it is necessary to position slidable projections 70 at the bottom ends of linear portions 75 of guide slots 74 while the handle 40 is pulled up. Since the support shaft 45 is movable upward within the oblong holes 42, the handle 40 can singly be pulled up while the movable electrode 31 is still engaged with the fixed electrodes 11a, 11b. During this time, the slidable projections 70 can be positioned and passed through the linear portions 75 of the guide slots 74 with a small force.

Abstract: A compact breaker device includes a pair of fixed electrodes 11a, 11b are placed upright at one side of the casing 1, and a fuse 12 is accommodated at the other side thereof. A movable electrode 31 including a pair of fittable terminals 32a, 32b connected with each other is mounted on a mount body 35. By engaging and disengaging the fittable terminals 32a, 32b with and from the fixed electrodes 11a, 11b through the ceiling wall of the casing 1, a breaker switch for connect and disconnect the fixed electrodes 11a, 11b is formed. The fuse 12 is connected in series with the breaker switch. A handle 40 is inclinably mounted on the upper surface of the mount body 35. The handle 40 is firmly held in a standing position and a resting position by a spring member 47 provided between it and the mount body 35. The handle 40 is inclined to the resting position when the breaker device is used, while being held upright when the breaker switch is turned on and off.

Abstract: A high amperage switch is provided for interrupting flow of power through a circuit. First and second connectors are connected in the circuit with the circuit being open between the first and second connectors. An electrically conductive bridging member includes first and second complementary-shaped connectors respectively mateable with the first and second connectors for electrically coupling the first and second connectors together when the bridging member is in the closed position and interrupting the circuit when the bridging member is in an open position. The bridging member is moveable between the closed and opened positions. The present invention is particularly well adapted for use in a vehicle having an electrical circuit for supplying power from a battery on the vehicle to at least one electrical component used on the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrical switch which reduces arcing by utilizing slidably mating members. In addition the switch provides large area gold contacts. Because of the above characteristics the invention provides a switch that can handle high and low current and allows dry current switching. In addition the inventive switch provides a switch which closes an alternative circuit to indicate that the normal circuit is open.

Abstract: A combination disconnect/reversing switch for use in explosive environments for isolating an electrical power source from a three-phase motor or for reversing the operation of a motor. The disconnect/reversing switch comprises a handle, mounting plate, front insulator plate, mounting flange, front contact holder, moveable contact holder, rear contact holder, and rear contact retainer. The handle actuates the moveable contact holder between open circuit, or load-grounded, (or reverse in the case of a reversing switch) and closed (or forward) positions. The moveable contact holder contains three electrically conductive pin members which engage corresponding electrical contacts on either the front contact holder, corresponding to the open (or reverse in the case of a reversing switch) position, or rear contact holder, corresponding to the closed (or forward) position.

Abstract: A switching device having an open-ended hollow cylindrical housing with a number of slots in the sidewall. An insulative piston is slidably movable along the housing longitudinal axis and has a threaded central opening receiving a similarly threaded axle. A receptacle switch part fits onto a housing end and includes a central opening through which an unthreaded portion of the axle extends. Openings in the receptacle switch part each have a sleeve contact with outwardly extending tabs for electrical connection to cable wires, or the like. The piston has a plurality of pin contacts fixedly mounted thereto with portions extending from both sides of the piston for electrical connection to cable wires, for example, and which respectively align with a sleeve contact in the switch part. A further receptacle switch part is affixed to the housing other end. Rotative power drives the piston along the housing to effect connection between the contacts.

Abstract: A connect/disconnect switch which is partially immersed in a cryogenic coolant includes colinearly arranged electrically conducting hollow cylinders separated by an electrically insulating as well as thermally insulating support member. An electrically conducting plug member is moveable within the cylinders with the cylinders being electrically connected to bus bars. During current flow operation, an electrical path is established between the hollow cylinders by means of the moveable plug whereas when a disconnect is desired, the moveable plug is removed from contacts with at least one of the cylinders thereby breaking the electrical as well as thermal path.

Abstract: An isolation switch comprises a mounting plate with a hub adapted to extend forwardly through a wall of an explosion-proof enclosure. A shaft is journaled for axial movement in the hub. First and second stationary contact members are supported on the mounting plate. The first stationary contact member has input and output power contacts, and the second stationary contact member has first and second grounding contacts. Jumpers connect the output power contacts with the second set of grounding contacts. A moveable contact member is moveable by the shaft between a "closed" position connecting the input and output power contacts; and an "open and load-side-grounded" position disconnecting the input and output power contacts and connecting the output power contacts to ground through the grounding contacts. A handle assembly is eccentrically pivoted on the forward end of the shaft, is guided for forward and backward swinging movement, and has cam bosses guided for transverse movement relative to the shaft.

Abstract: A high-speed, high-current making switch is provided which has a driver which forms an air cylinder in the housing and which has movable contacts attached thereto. The driver moves the contacts to make and break the circuit. The force to move the driver is provided by pressurized air within the housing chamber which in response to the operation of a solenoid which operates a latch allows the contacts to make very rapidly. Upon operation of the solenoid, the latch is removed from abutting contact with the driver thereby allowing the driver to move in response to the air pressure and make the circuit.

Abstract: A reversing switch comprises a mounting plate assembly with a hub extending forwardly through a wall of an explosion proof enclosure. A shaft is journaled for rotational and axial movement in the hub. A stationary contact assembly includes four circumferentially spaced contacts. A moveable contact assembly includes four circumferentially spaced contacts mounted on the shaft. The shaft extends through an external operator member at the forward end of the hub. The operator member is connected to the hub by a groove and flange arrangement preventing fore and aft movement but enabling rotational movement about the hub. A pair of forwardly extending side walls each with a transverse guide slot are connected to the operator member. A handle member with a pair of combined lever and cam arms is connected to the operator member and the shaft.

Abstract: A reversing switch comprises a mounting plate assembly with a hub adapted to extend forwardly through a wall of an explosion proof enclosure. A shaft is journaled for both rotational and axial movement in the hub. A stationary contact assembly consists of a first set of four evenly circumferentially spaced contacts, each with a connecting terminal, mounted on an insulator base. A movable contact assembly consists of a second set of four evenly circumferentially spaced contacts mounted on an electrical insulating member connected to the shaft. Adjacent pairs of the movable contacts are interconnected. The shaft has an external handle with a unique cam and rotatable eccentric pivot connection for moving the shaft axially to engage or disengage the contacts when the handle is pivoted forward and backward a half turn, and for rotating the shaft to reverse the contacts when the handle is rotated a quarter turn.

Abstract: A hook switch comprises a dielectric base member having series of stationary electrical contact members secured in aligned rows therein; the contact members in one row are offset with respect to the contact members in the other row and they include V-shaped contact sections and terminal sections. A dielectric cover member is latchably secured onto the base member. A movable contact assembly mounted in the cover member includes an operating member and a contact-carrying member. The operating member is linearly movable within an opening in the cover member from a normally inoperative position to an operative position against spring members extending betweeen the operating member and the base member.

Abstract: A multiple position switch is provided which is actuated by a lever to plug the switching element into a selected one of a plurality of receptacles. The switch is particularly applicable in connection with peripheral equipment for computers.

Abstract: A switch for connecting a selected one of a plurality of multi-terminal connectors to a common connector comprises a pivotable printed circuit board having a planar array of parallel conductors on at least one side of the board extending to the edge of the board, and fixed female connectors having elastically deformable contacts selectably engageable with the planar edge contact arrays by pivoting the printed circuit board to the selected female connector position, the compressive spring force of the elastically deformable contacts upon the planar contacts holding the pivotable printed circuit board in engagement with the selected female connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a plug, a socket, and a switching mechanism. The plug includes a plurality of outwardly extending blades defining parallel blade axes, and the socket defines a plurality of receptacles for receiving the blades. The socket has two longitudinally spaced positions for forming two different electrically conductive circuits with the plug. The switching mechanism is provided for moving the socket along the blades axes away from the first socket position, then along the longitudinal axis of the plug, and then back along the blade axes toward and into the second socket position.