Contact block having convertible normally open or normally closed

Abstract

The present invention defines a convertible electrical contact. The convertible contact comprises two pair of movable contacts attached to an actuator which is supported by and enclosed within a housing. The actuator is biased to a first position and is slidably movable to a second position in response to a force applied to the actuator. The movable contacts are attached to the distal ends of a flexible member which is supported at its approximate midpoint by the actuator. The movable contacts are also movable between a first position and a second position as the actuator is moved. A pair of contact cavities are defined by the housing such that the one contact cavity lies on each side of the actuator and the flexible member and movable contacts are contained within the cavities. The housing defines a first pair of access apertures associated with the first position of the movable contacts and a second pair of access apertures associated with the second position of the movable contacts. A convertible stationary contact module which includes a pair of bussing conductors, each with a stationary contact attached at its end is employed to complete the electrical contact. By selectively placing the bussing conductors and their associated stationary contacts in either the first or second pair of access apertures either a normally closed or a normally open electrical contact can be chosen. The contact module is attached to the outside of the housing by a mounting screw.