Patent ID: 6501039
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
Switch device for controlling electrical equipment, said device comprising:a switch housing (28) with stationary contact surfaces (26) disposed therein serving to provide an electrical contact; a body piece (15) engaged with the housing (28); movable contact surfaces (25) suitable for bringing into a contact with said stationary contact surfaces (26) so as to form an electrical contact; at least one sliding member (14) disposed in said body piece (15) so as to be reciprocatingly movable in regard to said body piece (15), the movement of said sliding member (14) providing an electrical contact of said movable contact surfaces (25) with said stationary contact surfaces (26); means (6, 18, 22) for latching said sliding member (14) either in a closed position of the switch, wherein said electrical contact is formed, or in an open position of the switch, wherein said electrical contact is opened, and further unlatching said sliding member (14) from said positions; at least one spring-arming plate (11) engaged with said body piece (15) so as to be movable in parallel with the movement of said sliding member (14); at least one elastic member (10) serving to transmit said movement of said spring-arming plate (11) to said sliding member (14); means (33, 34, 35) for locking said sliding member (14) into a third position between said closed and open positions and further for unlatching said sliding member (14) from said third position; another set of means (30) acting on said means (6, 18, 22) for latching said sliding member (14) in the closed or open position of the switch so as to unlatch said sliding member (14) from said closed or open position; and means (31) disposed in said body piece (15) so as to store/release energy for transferring said sliding member (14) from said closed/open position into said third position.