How do push button switches work?

[Deleted member 191766]

I have a switch that when one presses it in it locks down and when one pushes again it unlocks; I seek an explanation (diagram/video) of how the W wire achieves this magic.

 

[Bill_Bright]

That is a pushbutton switch, not a "toggle" switch. Probably the most commonly seen toggle switch is a typical wall mounted light switch.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I have a switch that when one presses it in it locks down and when one pushes again it unlocks; I seek an explanation (diagram/video) of how the W wire achieves this magic.

How all mechanical switches work is the same,join two terminals.
They can either be simple on off positional switches , momentary switches or latched like yours but the action of the switch is a mechanical construct.
They all essentially join two or more wires.

 

[Bill_Bright]

They all essentially join two or more wires.

Or break (open).

 

[Deleted member 191766]

My bad, not toggle; changed the title, and yes I have tried Google

I am after learning not how they work electrically, but mechanically; the mechanism by which they behave differently on each push; there is a two channel mechanism and a different channel is selected on each push. I'm after the details of the dynamics and the shape of the channels that make this possible.

 

[Deleted member 191766]

Latch switches might actually be the right name.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Latch switches might actually be the right name.

Your best bet is to take a few apart, it's a hard shape to describe like a G on it's back but wrong font, with a plastic flap ,sprung with edge tongues that slides through it but there are other ways even harder to describe and all likely patented too.

 

[Deleted member 191766]

Finally got to photograph an undamaged mechanism; seems to be based on a series of ramp/steps to avoid returning immediately to the same position.
Looks like it is the middle (chevron) catch that breaks on failure, perhaps because the spring was too strong.