US3803370A

US3803370A - Miniature multi-position rotary switch with flexible contact arrangements and inner housing cylindrical sleeve

Info

Publication number: US3803370A
Application number: US00334256A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Garcia
Original assignee: Grayhill Inc
Current assignee: Grayhill Inc
Priority date: 1973-02-21
Filing date: 1973-02-21
Publication date: 1974-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-09

Abstract

Miniature multi-position electrical switch with cylindrical housing, and rotor provided within sleeve positioned in the housing. An insulting end plate, having a plurality of contacts selectively engaged by one or more bridging contacts on the rotor, is secured to one end of the housing, so that the end plate and housing form a complete enclosure, and hold the parts therein in assembled relation. Various actuator structures coupled to the rotor are accessible at the opposite end of the housing. Also, various contact arrangements can be provided on the rotor and the end plate, for providing different multipositions switch arrangements. The switch can be mounted on a printed circuit board by connection to the terminals secured to the end plate, or the housing can have a tubular threaded extension for panel mounting.

Description

United States Patent 1 Garcia MINIATURE MULTI-POSITION ROTARY CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE [75] Inventor: Ricardo L. Garcia, Justice, 111. 73 Assignee: Grayhill, the, La Grange, m. [221 Filed: Feb. 21, 1973 211 App]. N01: 334,256

521 11.5. CI 200/11 J, ZOO/166 BE, 200/168 R 5 1 0,, 1101b 21/7 H0111 9 2 58 Field of Search...200/1-1 G, 11 J, 11 K, 166 BE, 200/166 BH, 168R, 168 o, 166 BF 5 6 I -Re ferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,908,777 10/1959 Brown 200/11 J 3,731,016 5/1973 Nadaguchi 200/11 K 3,311,718 3/1967 Allison et al.. 200/11 K 3,300,594- 1/1967 Paine et 211.... 200/11 G 3,043,922 7/1962 Laviana et a1. ZOO/11 J X 3,394,236 7/1968 Grundig et a1. 200/11 J Apr. 9, 1974 3,676,617 7/1972 Miller ZOO/ll G X Primary Examiner-James R. Scott Attorney, Agent, or FirmMueller and Aichele [57] ABSTRACT Miniature multi-position electrical switch with cylindrical housing, and rotor provided within sleeve positioned in the housing. An insulting end plate, having a plurality of contacts selectively engaged by one or more bridging contacts on the rotor, is secured to one end of the housing, so that the end plate and housing form a complete enclosure, and hold the parts therein in assembled relation. Various actuator structures coupled to the rotor are accessible at the opposite end of the housing. Also, various contact arrangements can be provided on the rotor and the end plate, for providing different multi-positions switch arrangements. The switch can be mounted on ap rinted circuit board by connection to the terminals secured to the end plate, or the housing can have a tubular threaded extension for panel mounting.

13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 24 42\4O) 22 v g9 '36- -15 g I I 32'" fi j l 3 N4, 2e 52T\ 52 49 '5 I 49 1 j 6 PATENTEBAPR 91974 3'803'370 SHEET 2 OF 2 v FIG. IO

MINIATURE MULTI-POSITION ROTARY SWITCH I WITH FLEXIBLE CONTACT ARRANGEMENTS AND INNER HOUSING CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the miniaturization of electronic devices, and the provision of complex circuits in extremely small packages, there are many applications in which a miniature electrical switch is required. In such applications there may be a need for selectively connecting circuits on a printed circuit board wherein an external control is not required, and the switch can be operated by a tool, such as a screwdriver, which engages a recess in the actuator. In such applications, different switching arrangements may be necessary in different instances, and accordingly there is a requirement for a switch which can be provided with variousdifferent contact arrangements, to provide the required connections. Presently, difierent switches must be used for the different contact arrangements, which results in a large number of different switches being required, with relatively small production, and this causes the switches to be quite expensive.

There are also many applications in which miniature switches are required wherein it is necessary to have a control which is accessible to an operator. In some cases, the switches should be suitable for panel mounting, with the switch mechanism on one side of the panel and the actuator on the opposite side. In other applica tions the switch may be mounted on a printed circuit board or other panel by the contacts as previously mentioned, but it may be desired to have an actuator which is easily operable to change the switch position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved miniature multi-position rotary electrical switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multi-position rotary switch having a cylindrical or tubular housing which cooperates with an end plate having contacts and terminals thereon, for holding the switch parts in assembled relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a miniature rotary switch having a rotor and contact plate construction which is adaptable to a plurality of different switching arrangements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a miniature rotary switch assembly including a housing with a sleeve therein, and a rotor operating within the sleeve, and wherein the sleeve and rotor are suitable for use with different housing constructions and with different rotor actuator constructions.

In practicing the invention, an extremely small multiposition rotary switch is provided in a cylindrical tubular housing having an end plate with contacts closing one end of the housing, and an actuator opening in the opposite end of the housing. A cylindrical sleeve is provided within the housing and a rotor moves within the sleeve and carries contacts for selectively engaging contacts in the end plate. The sleeve and rotor structure are suitable for use in various housing configurations, and the rotor is adapted to have different bridging contacts therewith for selectively engaging contacts in the end plate. The end plate is an insulating plate with contacts on the side adjacent the'rotor and terminals extending from the other side which may be used for mounting the switch. The rotor includes an actuating projection which extends through an opening in the sleeve for coupling to an actuator which may be within the housing, and have a portion extending into an opening in the housing. The actuator may be flush with the housing with a recess for receiving an actuating tool, or may extend through a tubular mounting part of the housing. In another embodiment the actuator is external to the housing and engages a portion of the rotor extending through the sleeve and housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a'miniature switch in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the switch of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the actuator of the switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified contact plate for the switch of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified rotor for use in the switch of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bridging contact for use with the rotor of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a switch in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a view along the lines 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a switch in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a top view of the switch of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawings, the switch of the invention is shown much larger than the switch has been actually constructed, to better illustrate the parts of the switch. The switch can be of extremely small size, with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 having a diameter of the order of 0.3 inch and a length of about 0.45 inch, excluding the terminals. The overall length of the switch including the terminals may be about 0.6 inch. The switch shown in FIG. 10 can be the same size as that shown in FIG. 3, with the thread extension and operating shaft extending therethrough being added to the dimension set forth. The switch shown in FIG. 12 has the same diameter as the switch shown in FIG. 1 and the overall length of the switch body and actuator, exclusive of the terminals, is about 0.45 inch.

In FIG. 1 there is shown, in perspective view, the miniature ten. position switch of the invention. This switch includes a housing 10 having a plurality of terminals all extending from one end thereof. Ten outer terminals 12 are provided corresponding to the ten positions of the switch, and a center terminal 14 is provided which may be selectively connected to any one of the terminals 12 by the switch. It is pointed out that other terminal and contact arrangements can be provided by use of the switch structure to be described. At the opposite end of the switch housing 10, an actuator 15 is provided having a screwdriver slot 16 for rotating the same. An indicator 17 on the actuator 15 indicates the position of the switch, with the positions being numbered around the annular end 18 of the housing 10.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view and FIG. 3 is a crosssectional view both showing the parts forming the switch of FIG. 1. In the following description the switch structure shown in these views, and by the views of FIGS. 4 and 5, will be referred to. The end 18 of the housing 10 has an opening 22 for receiving the projecting part 24 of the actuator 15, with the part 24 serving to center the actuator within the end 18 of the housing 10. Within the housing 10 is a sleeve 25 which cooperates with a rotor 28 which is coupled to the actuator 15. The rotor 28 has an outer cylindrical surface portion (FIG. 2) which rotates'within an inner cylindrical surface portion of sleeve 25 (FIG. 3). The sleeve 25 has a recessededge 30 which engages a shoulder 31 in the housing 10 to accurately position the same. A projecting key 32 is provided on the sleeve 25, which fits into the keyway 33 in the housing 10, adjacent to the shoulder 31, to hold the sleeve 25 against rotation within the housing 10.

To limit the rotation of the actuator 15with respect to the housing 10 and the sleeve 25, a projection 35 is provided on the inside face of the actuator'15 (FIG; 4) which engages stops 36 provided in recesses 38 in the end 26 of the sleeve 25. A plurality of recesses 38 may be provided at regular angular positions in the end 26 of sleeve 25, and stopsmay' be selectively positioned therein to permit rotation of the actuator 15 through a desired arc.

The rotor 28 includes a projection 40 which extends through the opening 27in the end 26 of the sleeve 25 into a recess 42 in the actuator 15. The projection 40 tending therebetween to bias the same outwardly. The

balls 45 engage a ribbed section 48 on the inside surface of the sleeve 25 (FIG. to provide a detent action. The detent positions may be at 36 with respect to each other, for the position switch which has been referred to.

The rotor 28 also has one or more openings or recesses 49 at the endtherof opposite to projection 40, to receive a conducting bridge contact 50. The contact 50 is spring biased downwardly by coil spring 52 to engage the contacts in an insulating end plate 60. Contacts 53 are connected to the outer terminals 12, and a center contact 54 is connected to the center terminal 14. The use of a single bridge contact 50 with a single center contact will provide a. single pole, multiple throw switch having 10 positions. If desired, a second bridge contact 50a can be provided positioned at 180with respect to contact 50, to form a cross shorting switch. The switch so provided will have a common-contact, when a single center contact54 is used. 7 I

As shown in FIG.',3, the switch parts are assembled in the housing 10 with the actuator in the end of the housing and having the projection 24 thereof within the opening 22 of the end 18 of the housing. The sleeve 25 is also positioned within the housing 10, with the key 32 in the recess 33 provided therefore. The rotor 28 is positioned within the sleeve 25, with the projection 40 thereon positioned within the recess 42 in the actuator 15. The end plate 60 is positioned against the rotor 28,

holding the bridge contact 50 (and 50a) in position therein. The end 20 of the housing 10 is then formed over the edge of the end plate to hold the various parts which have been described in assembled relation.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the bottom of the rotor 28, and shows the

bridge contacts

50 and 50a provided at 180 positions in openings 49 in the rotor. The

contacts

50 and 50a are wider adjacent the center of the rotor, than at the outer edge of the rotor. As shown in FIG. '7, the contact 54 can be replaced by two

semi-circular contacts

56 and 57, and these contacts are connected to two separate terminals. In this case, a double pole switch is provided, with each bridging contact having five positions for selectively connecting one of the

center contact

56 or 57 with five of the contacts 53 connected to the terminals 12.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a rotor which may be used 4 in the switch of the invention, which has a plurality of slots 62 for receiving bridge contacts. The rotor has 10 slots 62 to accept the same number of bridge contacts as individual contacts. The slots 62 have enlarged portions 64 for receiving coil springs, which may be smaller than the springs 48 shown in FIG. 3. The bridge contacts which are used in the ,slots 62 are shown in FIG. 9, and are designated contacts 66. Because a large number of bridge contacts are used, the contacts are smaller than in the embodiment of FIG. 3, wherein only one or two bridge contacts are used. The contacts 66 may be of uniform thickness to fit into the slots 62 in the rotor shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a switch of a construction generally similar to that of FIG. 3, but which is adapted for panel mounting. The housing 70 has a threaded extension 71 thereon, which can extend through a panel and be secured thereto by a threaded nut, in a well known manner. The actuator 72 has apart within the housing generally similar to the actuator 15, but instead of a projecting part which is flushed with the end of the housing, the actuator includes a shaft 74 which extends through tubular extension 71. This is adapted to re ceive a control knob for actuating the switch, in an obvious manner. FIG. 11 is atop view of the switch of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12' shows a still further embodiment of the switch of the invention. In this construction, the housing is shorter than the housing 10 in FIG. 3, having an inturned edge 81 at the position of the shoulder 31 of the housing 10. The edge 81 has a recess to receive the key 32 on the sleeve 25. The sleeve 25, the rotor 28 and the end plate 60 may be of the same construction as in FIG. 3.

In the structure of FIG. 12, an actuator 85 external to the housing is secured to the actuating projection 40 on the rotor 28. The actuator 85 may have a knurled edge as shown in FIG. 13. The actuator 85 and the pro- It will be apparent that the rotor construction as shown in FIG. 3, or as shown in FIG. 8, can be used in the switches of FIGS. and 12. Also, contact plate constructions as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 can be used in these embodiments.

In the switch construction of the invention a plurality of switch contact arrangements can be obtained by the use of different rotor and end plate structures, with the other parts of the switch being unchanged. Similarly different housing configurations, such as the configurations shown in FIGS. 3, l0 and 12 can be used with the same sleeve, rotor and end plate constructions. Accordingly, a switch of very small size can be constructed very inexpensively, and the same parts can be used in different applications so that the production quantities can be large, resulting in economical manufacturing costs.

I claim:

1. A miniature multi-position rotary electrical switch including in combination,

.a cylindrical housing having a first open end and a second end having an inturned annular portion, cylindrical sleeve within said housing having an inner cylindrical 'surfaceportion and an annular inturned end adjacent said second end of said housing, said sleeve having a portion engaging said housing to'prevent rotation of said sleeve within said housing,

a rotor having an insulating body with an outer cylindrical surface portion rotatably positioned within said inner cylindrical surface portion of said sleeve, said rotor having an actuating part integral with said insulating body and extending from one end of said body through said annular inturned end of said sleeve, and first contact means movable with said body and positioned at the end thereof opposite to said actuating part,

an insulating end plate adjacent said opposite end of said rotor body, and

second contact means secured to said end plate and adapted to be selectively engaged by said first contact means,

said end plate being secured to said first end of said housing to hold the switch in assembled relation, with said sleeve within said housing and said rotor within said sleeve.

2. The switch according to claim 1 including an actuator coupled to said actuating part of said rotor body, and having a portion within said inturned annular portion of said housing.

3. The switch according to claim 2 wherein said portion of said actuator is substantially flush with said second end of said housing and has a recess therein adaptedv to receive a tool for rotating said actuator.

4. The switch according to claim 2 wherein said housing has a tubular mounting portion extending from said second end thereof, and said actuator includes a shaft extending through said tubular portion.

5. The switch according to claim 2 wherein said actuating part of said rotor body extends through said annular portion at said second end of said housing, and said actuator is a knob outside said housing which is connected to said actuating part.

6. The switch according to claim 1 including detent means coupled to said rotor body, and wherein said sleeve has a ribbed portion positioned to cooperate with said detent means to provide predetermined positions for said rotor within said housing.

7. The switch according to claim 6 wherein said rotor body has an opening extending along a diameter thereof, and said detent means including first and second balls and a spring therebetween positioned within said opening, with said balls bearing against said ribbed portion on opposite sides of said sleeve to tend to hold said rotor in said predetermined-positions.

8. The switch according to claim 1 wherein said second contact means in said end plate includes a center contact and a plurality of individual contacts positioned about said center contact, and said first contact means of said rotor includes a bridging contact for selectively interconnecting said center contact and one of said individual contacts.

9. The switch according to claim 8 wherein said second contact means in said end plate includes first and second center contacts divided along a diameter of said end plate, and said first contact means of said rotor includes first and second bridging contacts each movable to a plurality of positions for connecting said first and second center contacts individually to selected ones of said individual contacts.

10. The switch according to claim 8 wherein said second contact means in said end plate includes a plurality of center contacts, and said first contact means of said rotor includes a plurality of bridging contacts each movable to a plurality of positions for selectively connecting said center contacts individually to said individual contacts.

11. The switch according to claim 10 wherein said rotor includes provisions for receiving a number of bridging contacts equal to said number of individual contacts of said second contact means.

12. The switch according to claim 1 including an actuator coupled to said actuating part of said rotor body and having a stop projection on the side thereof adjacent said cylindrical sleeve, and said annular end of said cylindrical sleeve includes stop means thereon adapted to be engaged by said projection on said actuator to limit the rotation of said actuator and of said rotor coupled thereto.

13. The switch according to claim 12 wherein said stop means includes a plurality of recesses in said annular end of said cylindrical sleeve and at least one stop plate selectively positioned in said recesses in position to be engaged by said projection on said actuator for limiting the rotation of said actuator and of said rotor coupled thereto.

Claims

1. A miniature multi-position rotary electrical switch including in combination, a cylindrical housing having a first open end and a second end having an inturned aNnular portion, a cylindrical sleeve within said housing having an inner cylindrical surface portion and an annular inturned end adjacent said second end of said housing, said sleeve having a portion engaging said housing to prevent rotation of said sleeve within said housing, a rotor having an insulating body with an outer cylindrical surface portion rotatably positioned within said inner cylindrical surface portion of said sleeve, said rotor having an actuating part integral with said insulating body and extending from one end of said body through said annular inturned end of said sleeve, and first contact means movable with said body and positioned at the end thereof opposite to said actuating part, an insulating end plate adjacent said opposite end of said rotor body, and second contact means secured to said end plate and adapted to be selectively engaged by said first contact means, said end plate being secured to said first end of said housing to hold the switch in assembled relation, with said sleeve within said housing and said rotor within said sleeve.

3. The switch according to claim 2 wherein said portion of said actuator is substantially flush with said second end of said housing and has a recess therein adapted to receive a tool for rotating said actuator.

7. The switch according to claim 6 wherein said rotor body has an opening extending along a diameter thereof, and said detent means including first and second balls and a spring therebetween positioned within said opening, with said balls bearing against said ribbed portion on opposite sides of said sleeve to tend to hold said rotor in said predetermined positions.