Insulating switch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10490375-B2
Application number	US-201715851079-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2017
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

An insulating switch assembly is disclosed. The insulating switch assembly provides electrical insulation between a user and highly charged electric components by employing highly-resistive or nonconductive material. The insulating switch assembly also distances the user from the electrical components by increasing the distance from the user input device and electric components. The user of the insulating switch assembly is provided layers of electrical insulation.

First claim

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. An insulating switch assembly, comprising:
an insulating switch;
a switch mounting plate in direct contact with and supporting the insulating switch;
a switch contactor housing;
wherein the insulating switch comprises electrically highly-resistive material on at least one side;
electrical terminals disposed on the switch contactor housing accessible on at least one side of the switch contactor housing;
an insulating linkage extending from the switch mounting plate to the switch contactor housing providing electrical insulation; and
at least one insulating pushrod presenting a length and disposed between the insulating switch and an electrical contact,
wherein the at least one insulating pushrod comprises electrically highly-resistive material on at least one side,
wherein the insulating pushrod is configured to translate along the length of the insulating pushrod in response to a pressing of the insulating switch,
wherein an insulating switch user contact point is separated from the electrical contact by at least the insulating switch and the insulating pushrod reducing the likelihood of shocking a user.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulating linkage is the switch contactor housing.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the switch contactor housing, the insulating switch, the switch mounting plate, the insulating pushrod, and the insulating linkage is made of the electrically highly-resistant material.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the electrically highly-resistant material is a polymer.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical terminals are wire terminals.

6. The assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the insulating switch activates the electrical contact; and
wherein the electrical contact is a relay.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulating switch controls a plurality of utility platform assembly operations.

8. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the insulating linkage comprises two linkages each insulating an individual push rod.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulating switch user contact point is separated from the electrical contact by at least 2 inches reducing the likelihood of an electrical spark crossing a gap and shocking the user.

10. An insulating switch assembly, comprising:
an insulating switch;
a switch mounting plate in direct contact with and supporting the insulating switch;
a switch contactor housing,
wherein the insulating switch comprises electrically highly-resistive material on at least one side;
electrical terminals disposed in the switch contactor housing and accessible on at least one side;
an insulating linkage extending from the switch mounting plate to the switch contactor housing providing electrical insulation; and
an insulating pushrod presenting a length and configured to link the insulating switch and an electrical contact,
wherein the insulating pushrod is configured to translate along the length of the insulating pushrod in response to a pressing of the insulated switch,
wherein the insulating pushrod comprises electrically highly-resistive material on at least one side;
wherein an insulating switch user contact point is separated from the electrical contact by at least the insulating switch and the insulating pushrod reducing the likelihood of shocking the user.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the insulating switch is a push button switch.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the insulating switch assembly is configured to withstand 40 kV alternating current for three minutes with a maximum amount of current through the insulating switch being no more than 400 microamperes.

13. The system of claim 10 ,
wherein the switch contactor housing is configured with attachments for holding the insulating switch assembly in place; and
wherein the contactor housing comprises electrically highly-resistive material on at least one side.

14. The assembly of claim 13 ,
wherein the attachments are flexible, providing insertion of the insulating switch into the housing in a direction and preventing extraction in an opposite direction, and
wherein compression of the attachments allows the insulating switch assembly to be extracted from the housing.

15. An insulating switch assembly, comprising:
an insulating switch;
a switch contactor housing,
wherein the insulating switch comprise electrically highly-resistive material on at least one side;
electrical terminals protruding from the switch contactor housing on at least one side, and
an insulating linkage configured to link the insulating switch and an electrical contact;
wherein the insulating linkage is configured to translate an insulating switch movement and is at least partially disposed within the switch contactor housing;
wherein the insulating linkage comprises electrically highly-resistive material on at least one side,
wherein an insulating switch user contact point is separated from the electrical contact by at least the insulating switch and the insulating linkage reducing the likelihood of an electrical spark crossing a gap and shocking a user,
wherein the insulating switch assembly is configured to withstand 40 kV alternating current for three minutes with a maximum amount of current through the switch contactor housing being no more than 400 microamperes.

16. The assembly of 15 , wherein the switch contactor housing is configured with attachments for holding the insulating switch assembly in place.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the contact is an electromechanical relay.

18. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the insulating switch assembly controls a plurality of operations.

19. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the insulating switch is a rocker switch.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , wherein a rocker switch user contact point and the electrical terminals are separated by at least 0.25 inches reducing the likelihood of an electrical spark crossing the gap and shocking the user.

Assignees

• Altec Ind Inc

Inventors

• Thompson Jesse L
• Fuller David Bryon

Classifications

• H01H23/04

  Cases; Covers · CPC title

• H01H9/48

  Means for preventing discharge to non-current-carrying parts, e.g. using corona ring · CPC title

• H01H13/04

  Cases; Covers · CPC title

• H01H45/02 Primary

  Bases; Casings; Covers (frames for mounting two or more relays or for mounting a relay and another electric component H02B1/01, H04Q1/08, H05K) · CPC title

• H01H23/141 Primary

  provided with extensions, e.g. for actuation by a child · CPC title