Switch with sliding contactor

Abstract

A switch construction including opposed contacts positioned on a base and a bridging sliding contactor slidable between different switch positions. The design of the contacts on the base includes an upper section that defines a first surface engageable by a tab formed on the sliding contactor, and second surface blade portions which provide engagement with wing sections defined on opposite sides of a tab section formed on the sliding contactor. Resilient means press the sliding contactor against this upper section in a fashion such that the wing sections slide over the second surface portions and the tab section engages the first surface portions. The separate engagement of the tab and wing sections provide separate available current paths for the switch; and since either the tab or the wing sections may engage the contact first, arcing is confined to this initial contact area during switch closure. The other section may then act as an inclined plane during switch closure to help lift off the arcing section away from the initial contact area after arcing occurs. The section that is engaged in the maintained state of the switch is thus a clean contact area at which no arcing has occurred. Similarly, upon opening of the switch circuit the initial contact point is also the last point of the sliding contactor that contacts the stationary contact, and thus arcing is again confined to this area.