Abstract: An improved mechanism for retaining a hub-containing element such as a pulley, fan, gear or the like, on a shaft wherein the shaft has a circumferential groove formed near its end and the element has a hub to engage the shaft with a plurality of flexible fingers formed around and extending onward from the hub. The fingers have a pawl disposed to drop into the circumferential groove on the shaft and thereby secure the element in place. The pawls can be of various configurations so as to both align properly with the groove and to accommodate tolerances in the shaft assembly. A protective collar surrounds the fingers and extends axially from the hub to protect the fingers from entanglement and breakage during manufacture, storage, or transportation. The shaft also has splines formed therein proximate the groove that matingly engage corresponding keyways formed inside the hub so that the shaft positively mates with the hub.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for retaining a pulley on a motor shaft is disclosed wherein the shaft has a circumferential groove formed near its end and the pulley has a hub to engage the shaft with a plurality of flexible fingers formed around and extending outward from the hub. The fingers have a pawl disposed to drop into the circumferential groove on the shaft and thereby secure the pulley in place. The pawls can be of various configurations so as to both align properly with the groove and to accommodate tolerance in the shaft assembly. The shaft also has splines formed thereon proximate to the groove that matingly engage corresponding keyways formed inside the pulley hub so that the shaft positively mates with the pulley.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine includes a stator assembly having one or more sets of electrical windings. Apparatus for electrically interconnecting external electrical leads, a thermal protector and ends of each set of windings includes a protector block for commonly connecting one end of at least one winding set with the thermal protector. The thermal protector is housed in the protector block. A terminal block interlocks with the protector block to hold the thermal protector in place. An electrically conductive arm of the thermal protector extends through the terminal block to effect connection of the thermal protector with an external lead. The terminal block also provides for connection of the other end of each winding set with another external lead.

Abstract: An insulator system for a plurality of male switch terminals protruding from a switch housing. An integrally formed insulative jacket has a skirt extending from the switch housing outwardly past the distal end of the male terminals. The jacket further has means internal of the skirt for frictionally engaging at least one of the male terminals. The jacket has an opening adjacent the distal end of at least one of the male terminals so that a female terminal may be connected to the male terminal. Female terminal has a surrounding insulative jacket which is engagable by the insulative jacket when the male and female terminals are connected, which sleeve, in cooperation with the frictionally engaging means, holds the insulative jacket in place on the switch housing.

Abstract: A starting switch assembly for an electric motor having a run winding, a starting winding, and a centrifugal actuator. The starting switch assembly includes a first enclosed switch electrically insertable between an electric motor starting winding and a power source to control the application of power to the starting winding. A second enclosed switch is also included, each of the first and second enclosed switches having its own housing for protecting the interior thereof from environmental particles such as lint. The first and second enclosed switches are mounted in a predetermined geometrical relationship and the assembly includes an actuating link responsive to an electric motor centrifugal actuator for simultaneously actuating the first and second switches. The first and second enclosed switches are mounted on a base by a relatively open frame which extends from the base to support the first and second exposed switches in the predetermined geometrical relationship.

Abstract: A housing with a relatively open end contains an electric motor starting switch. A plurality of terminals are secured to the housing and are disposed adjacent its relatively open end. A plug having a plurality of conductors for making electrical contact with the terminals is insertable in the relatively open end of the housing. A grounding buss is secured to the exterior of the housing and has a latching lug formed integrally therein. A mating latching mechanism is formed on the exterior of the plug to latch the plug to the housing when the plug is inserted in the relatively open end of the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and system for terminating the winding wires of a dynamoelectric machine (e.g., a fractional horsepower electric motor) is disclosed in which wires (referred to as magnet wires) constituting the coils of the windings of the dynamoelectric machine are terminated in an electrically insulative block fixedly secured to the core of the motor. The magnet wires from the windings of the motor are fitted into respective receptacles of the terminal block and magnet wire terminals are forceably inserted into the receptacles so as to make electrical contact with the magnet wires and so as to securely hold the magnet wires within the terminal block.

Abstract: Apparatus and system for terminating the winding wires of a dynamoelectric machine (e.g., a fractional horsepower electric motor) is disclosed in which wires (referred to as magnet wires) constituting the coils of the windings of the dynamoelectric machine are terminated in an electrically insulative block fixedly secured to the core of the motor. The magnet wires from the windings of the motor are fitted into respective receptacles of the terminal block and magnet wire terminals are forceably inserted into the receptacles so as to make electrical contact with the magnet wires and so as to securely hold the magnet wires within the terminal block.

Abstract: A motor starting switch including a pair of auxiliary switches operable in response to the stopping of the drive motor of an electrical appliance or the like for disconnecting both sides of an electrical load in the appliance (e.g., for disconnecting a heating element) from the input power lines thereby to reduce shock and fire hazards of the appliance due to a short circuit of the load when the appliance is turned off, and for automatically connecting the load to the input lines of the appliance in response to start up of the motor.

Abstract: A motor starting switch installable, for example, on a fractional horsepower electric motor and actuable between a run and a start position by means of a centrifugal actuator axially shiftable on the rotor shaft of the motor in response to start up or shut down of the motor. The starting switch includes a rotary actuator member having a cam follower engageable by a conical cam surface on the centrifugal actuator as the latter shifts axially from its run to its start position thereby to effect rotary movement of the actuator member and to effect actuation of the switch from its run to its start position as the centrifugal actuator moves through only a portion of its stroke. The rotary actuator member is further engageable with a cylindrical cam surface of the centrifugal actuator after the switch has been converted to its start position thereby to prevent overstressing of a switch arm within the starting switch upon continued movement of the centrifugal actuator to its start position.

Abstract: A motor starting switch particularly intended for use with a two speed electric motor actuable by a centrifugal actuator upon start up of the motor so as to energize the high speed and auxiliary windings of the motor for start up of the motor and for deenergizing the auxiliary winding and energizing the selected high or low speed winding of the motor after the motor has accelerated to a predetermined operating speed. The switch has a resilient, current carrying, force transmitting member interconnecting the plunger of the switch operated by the centrifugal actuator and a switch arm for energization of the auxiliary winding and for effecting movement of the switch arm within the switch.

Abstract: A centrifugal actuator assembly for an electric motor or the like is provided having a pair of opposed movable members rotatable with the rotor shaft of the motor and responsive to centrifugal force upon rotation of the rotor shaft for movement between a run and a start position. The movable members are biased inwardly toward their start position by means of compression coil springs interconnected between the movable members by means of a linkage designed to improve operating life of the centrifugal actuator.

Abstract: A motor starting switch mountable on an electric motor and actuatable by a centrifugal actuator for energizing the starting winding of the motor during start up of the motor and for deenergizing the starting winding or other circuits upon the motor attaining a desired operating speed. A toggle linkage for operatively connecting the motor starting switch to the centrifugal actuator is included as a part of this motor starting switch, and it includes a slider for opening and closing one or more sets of contacts within the starting switch housing movable in the same direction as the actuator member of the centrifugal actuator, and a lever pivoted to the switch housing and engageable by the centrifugal actuator. The slider is privotally connected to the lever so that upon the centrifugal actuator pivoting the lever, the slider is moved to open or close the contacts.

Abstract: A centrifugal actuator for an electric motor starting switch which is rotatable with the rotor shaft of the motor and which is movable axially with respect to the rotor shaft. A spring biases the centrifugal actuator into engagement with a fixed stop carried by the housing of the electric motor so that the position of the centrifugal actuator with respect to the motor starting switch remains fixed and is not affected by axial movement of the rotor shaft within the electric motor housing.

Abstract: A starting switch assembly is integrally formed with a terminal connection board and is adapted to be actuated by a conventional centrifugal actuator. The switch assembly is constructed so that the electrical contact points of the assembly abut one another under a predetermined pressure independent of the forces exerted on other structural components of the assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the terminal connection board is used to connect external power leads to the dynamoelectric machine. The switch assembly includes a terminal block integrally formed with the terminal connection board. Various windings of the dynamoelectric machine are connected to the power leads by switch assembly operation. The assembly includes a switch arm which is mounted for movement between at least first and second positions. The switch arm is designed to engage and disengage respective ones of a plurality of electrical contacts as the switch arm moves between positions.