CA1237163A - Bus switch with friction loaded actuation lever - Google Patents
Bus switch with friction loaded actuation leverInfo
- Publication number
- CA1237163A CA1237163A CA000456046A CA456046A CA1237163A CA 1237163 A CA1237163 A CA 1237163A CA 000456046 A CA000456046 A CA 000456046A CA 456046 A CA456046 A CA 456046A CA 1237163 A CA1237163 A CA 1237163A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- switch
- rotatable
- pivot
- connecting rod
- receptacle
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H21/00—Switches operated by an operating part in the form of a pivotable member acted upon directly by a solid body, e.g. by a hand
- H01H21/02—Details
- H01H21/18—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
- H01H21/36—Driving mechanisms
- H01H21/40—Driving mechanisms having snap action
- H01H21/42—Driving mechanisms having snap action produced by compression or extension of coil spring
Landscapes
- Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
Abstract
BUS SWITCH WITH FRICTION LOADED ACTUATION LEVER
ABSTRACT
A bus switch alternately couples one of at least two multiple conductor buses into electrical contact with another multiple conductor bus. The bus switch includes a printed circuit board having conductors connected between contacts of a disk switch and bus connector terminals. The disk switch includes stationary and rotatable members, the stationary member being carried by the circuit board and the rotatable member being connected with an actuator for imparting rotation for switching of the disk switch between the multiple conductor buses. The actuator includes a lever confined in a pivot mount being in a fixed space relationship to the circuit board.
spring is co-axially carried on a portion of the lever for imparting substantially greater frictional resistance to motion at the pivot mount than is imparted between the stationary and rotatable switch members during a traverse between extreme switch positions.
ABSTRACT
A bus switch alternately couples one of at least two multiple conductor buses into electrical contact with another multiple conductor bus. The bus switch includes a printed circuit board having conductors connected between contacts of a disk switch and bus connector terminals. The disk switch includes stationary and rotatable members, the stationary member being carried by the circuit board and the rotatable member being connected with an actuator for imparting rotation for switching of the disk switch between the multiple conductor buses. The actuator includes a lever confined in a pivot mount being in a fixed space relationship to the circuit board.
spring is co-axially carried on a portion of the lever for imparting substantially greater frictional resistance to motion at the pivot mount than is imparted between the stationary and rotatable switch members during a traverse between extreme switch positions.
Description
'7~.~3 FIEL~ OF THE IN~N~ION
The invention i5 in the field of mechanically actuated electrical switches, and more ~articularly concerns switches of a type havin~ a stationary member and rotatable member.
BACKGROUND OF THE IN~ENTION
In ~ome computer systems, multiple parallel buses are alternately connected by means o~ a mechanical switch or switches bein~ located between a central processor and various of peripheral apparatus, so that the /C~ computer system is conveniently confjgurable from time to time, as the occasion requiræs. One mechanical switch, which has recently become avajl~ble for this purpose, i5 ~nown as a dis~ switch, which is manufactured by Porta Data Corp. at 800 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, New Yor~, U.S.~. 11797, and sold with the traJe mar~ Wire Switch. The di~ switch, hereina~ter referred to simply as a switch, includes base and rotatahle members connected by an axle. The ~ase member includes group~ of wire spring electrical contact members, there bein~ typically three wire sprin~s to a group. The rotatable member includes contact bars, each of which corre6ponds with one of the wire spring groups. Each contact bar i5 of a 20 width 5uch that in either of two extreme switch positions it span~ two of the wire sprin~s, ma~ing an electrical connection between the wire springs~
while at the same time being DUt of contact with the remainin~ wire spring.
The rotatable member of the switch is movable between the extreme switch positions by means of a lever, which is ridgedly fixed to the rotatable member for convenient manual operation of the switch. Howe~er, experience with the switch has i11ustrated th~t some operators sometimes '7 ~ 3 fail to move the rotatable switch me~ber completely into one or the other ot the extreme switch Posjtions~ ~his occurrence i~ more frequent in switches having a large number of wire spring groups. ~pparently in switching, as the contact bars tra~erse the wire springs from one extreme switch position toward another, an increa6ed resi6tance to further movement occurs at a moment when each of the contact bars initially en~a~es a side of ~ wire spring which was previously not enga~ed. This increased ræsistance occurs simultaneously among the groups and it is often mista~en by the operator as an indication that the other e~treme switch position has been achieved Hence no further manual switching movement is attempted and an intermedjate or in~omplete switch position is effected.
This incomplæte switch position can result in various deleterious consequences. One exemplary consequence is that the computer system fails to operate properly, resulting in lost time until the switch position is torrected. ~nother more serious exemplary consequence is that the wire sprIng contacts are iust sufficiently connected for nor~al computer syste~
operation. However, some of the bar to wire spring contact areas can be 50 small that resulting concentrated current densities cause localized contact damage and so shorten the useful operational lifetime of the switch.
~0 SUMMA~Y OF THE INvENTION
It i~ an object of the invention to ~rovide an actuator for a rotatable switch~ which mor~ reliably conpletes a switchin~ operation between one extreme switch position and another extreme switch position.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the actuator imparts a substantially greater apparent resistance to a manual switching operation than does the switch itself, so that variations in frictional resistance to ,S??~ !tj r3 swltchlng movement are less apparent to a sw~tch oDerator.
In accordance with the ~nvent~on. a switch actuator ~s provided for effecting switching action between base and rotatable switch members, wherein the rotatable switch mernber is Dositionable between first and second extrerne switch positions. The switch actuator includes a couPlinc!
receptacle being defined adiacent a ~eripheral edoe of the rotatable switch me~,ber such that a central axis of the coupling receptacle i5 common with a radial of the rotatable switch rnernber. A DiVot receptacle is defined spaced from and in fixed relation to the base switch member and adjacent the couplinc? rece~tacle. such that it has an axis cornmon to the radial of the rotatable switch mernber when the rotatable switch mernber is of a Position intermediate the extreme switch positions. ~ lever extends through and is lodc?ed in the pivot receptacle. The lever includes an arm extending away from the switch members and also defines a connecting rod extendinq between the pivot receptacle and the coupling receptacle for coupling mechanical rotation therebetween. Frictional resistance to motion between the piVQt formation and the PiVot receptacle is imparted by resilient bias beinc?
provided bY a first spring co-axially carried by the connecting rod and a second sr?ring residing? oetween the connecting rod and the terminating end of the h~le.
~ lso in accordance with the invention! a bus switch comprises a substrate and a disk switch including base and rotatat~?le switch members.
The base switch mernber is fixed upon a surface of the substrate. The rotatable mernber is carried bY the base switch member and is positionable between first and second extreme switch Positions. ~ pivot receptacle is carried bv a face plate being fixed to an edoe of the substrate such that the pivot receDtacle is in fixed relation to the base switch ~emben, havinc?
3 ~
an axis comrnon to a rad~al of the rotatable swltch merrlber wher the rotatable switch member is positioned midwa~ between the extrerrle switch positions.
coupling recePtacle is defineo adiacent a peripheral edoe of the rotatable swltch member havinq a central axis comrnon with said radial. A lever includes a lever arm extending from a pivot formation being lodaed in the pivc,t receptacle with the lever arrn extending away from the switch rnernbers.
The lever defines a hole extendinr~ through the pivot formation and havina a terminating encd insicle the lever arm. A connecting rod is carried in the hole and extends into the coupling receptacle. A resilientlv cornpressible device i5 associated with the connection rod for imparting frictional resistance to motion between the PiVot forrnation and the pivot receDtacle.
BPIEF DESORIPT10~ OF THE DRAI~INGS
An examPle embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accomPanyincl drawings in which:
Figure I is a Dlan view of a bus switch including a switch actuator assemblY in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial cut awav F~lan view of the switch actuator assemblY in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a vertica7 elevatiQnal view which illustrates part of the bus switch in Fiaure 1: and 3~
Flgures 4a, 4~ and 4c illustrate s~ne contact switch po~itions ir, thæ
operatjon of a Wire Switch ~s used in Figure I.
DESCRIPTI~N OF T~E EX~MPLE EMBODIMEN~
Referring to Figure I o~ the drawingst the bus switch includes a switch 10, for example a Wire Switch. The 6witch 10 includes a rotatable member axially mounteJ at 11 upon a base or stationary member, hidden from view and su6~f~ ~ J~/~ c~a~/c which is carried by aAprintecl circuit board 12. The ~rinted circuit board 12 carries conductors (not shown~ which are connected between various /0 terminals of electrical connectors 13a, l~b and 13c and wire spring contacts in the stationary member of the 5Wi tch 10. The wire contact~ and correspondin~ connectin~ bars are later described with reference to Figures 4a-4c. The bus switch also includes a face plate 15 fixed to the printeJ
circuit board 12 by a brac~et 16a and rivets 16. The printed circuit board 12 also includes a notch being defined by side walls 17 and a bac~ wall 18 which is hidden from view in Figure 1. ~ switch actuator, generally illustrated at 20 is retained in the face ~late 15 by nuts 21 and 22 engaged with a threaded barrel 23. ~ lever 30, in the switch actuator assembly 20, jc connected with a coupling plate 40, which is ~ixed by fastenærs 44a to a 20 protrusion IOa of the rotatable member of the switch 10, for transmission of mechanical m~tion betwæen the actuator assembly ~0 and the rotatable member of the switch IO.
The actuator assem~1y i5 secured by the nuts 21 and 22 and a loc~
washer 22a in an orifice 19 in the face plate I5, a5 shown in ~iQure 2. The le~ær 30 i5 illustrated to includæ a pivot formation 34 residing in a pivot receptacle 24 bein~ defined by an interior surface of the barrel 23.
1ements simi1ar to those illustratecl at 23 and 30 are purohasable from C&K
~omponents, ~nc., 15 Riverdale ~ve., Newton, M~ 02l58 U.S ~. In this particular embodiment, the pivot for~ation 34 and the pivot recePtacle co-act to Yield an o~nidirectional swivel action. The pivot formation 34 is bounded by an end face 38 into which an elongated hole 31 has been for~ed to receive a spring 33 and a conrecting rod 32, as shown.
~ portion of the coupling plate 40 illustrated ir, Figure 3, extends normal from the body of the coupling plate illustrated in Figure 1, and in Figure I is hidden behind the body of the coupling plate. ~ central position 43 of the coupling plate 40 receives an end of the connecting rod 3~ in a coupling receptacle being defined by an end wall 41 and side walls 42 divergjng there4rom. The spring 33 performs two functions. Firstly, the spring 33 ræsiljently urges the connecting rod into engagement with the coupling receptacle in the coupling plate 40. Secondly, the spring 33 provides a separating hias between the actuator assembly and the switch I0 such that the pivot fDrmation 34 is held in swivel contact with the pivot receptacle ~4. In the course of development of the bus switch, it was realized that a smoother, all be it slightly stiffer, switching action was achieved when the sprin~ 33 was provided by a very stiff spring ele~ent.
However as the dimensions of the spring 33 are limited t~ the physical 2Q dimensions of the elongated hole 3I, there i5 a practical limit to the maxi~um sprin~ stiffness available for a reasDnable pur~hase price Thus an additional spring 36 is carried co-axially in compression ~etween the end face 3B and the coupling plate 40 via a washer 37. As the dimensions Df the spring 3~ are at least twice in dia~eter as compared to the sprin~ 3I, a substantially greater separating bias i5 exerted. This greater ~ias imparts substantial extra frictional resistance to movement between the pivot formation 34 And the pivot receptacle 24.
In this embodiment the ~ivot formation and the pi~ot receptacle proviJe an omnidire~tional ~wivel action. Other forms of pivots, for exaMple thoçe limited to bidirectional motion b~ an axle pivot structure ar~ also envisaged as being useful. In the example embodiment the ball and soc~et structure results in a swivel action, which of necessity is confined or limited to a bidirectional movement, preferred for the Wire Switch, hy providing the coupling plate 40 in a form similar to that illustrated in Figure 3. The vertical elevation in Figure 3 is viewed from the face plate I5 loo~ing toward the coupling plate 40 and part of the printed circuit /C) board 12, portions of which are shown in section. Symmetrical lateral notches 44 and 45 are definæd at opposite ends of the coupling plate 40.
The coupling plate 40 resides in the notch being defined by the side walls 17 and the bac~ wall 18 of the printed circuit board I2. The notches 44 and 45 are in loose sliding engagement with the p~rtions of the printed circuit board 12 adjacent the side walls 17 and help to confine piVDt motion of the lever 30 to the plane of rotation of the rotatable member of the switch IO.
Figures 4a-4c are simplified illustrations of a transfer switch structure which is repeated in the switch IO. Each trans4er ~witch structure includes a group o~ wire spring contacts consjstin~ of wire 20 springs ~, e and B in combination with a corresponding conta~t b~r ~û h~ving angled edges ~I and 62. Figure 4a illustrates one extreme switch position wherein the contact bar 60 straddles and depresses the wire spring ~ and B.
This switch position corresponds to the lever 30 being in an ~ position in Figure 2. Figure 4b il1ustrates another extreme switch pQsitisn wherein the contact ~0 straddles and depresses the wire springs B and C. This switch position corre~ponds to the lever 30 being in a B position in Figure 2. In the example embodiment, a traverse of the lever 30 between the extreme swltch posItions ~ and B represents a travel through a distance y, corresponding to about 9 degrees of rotation. This in turn corresponds to a travel through a distance x which corresponcls to rotation of about 3 1/2 degrees at the coupling plate 40. Figure 4c illustrates a case wherein the contact bar 60 is in a position of an 1ncomplete traverse, having been moved from the position ~ toward the position B, that is through about 2 degrees of rotation at the coupling plate 40. In this posjtjon the contact bar 60 has released the wire sprinQ ~ and is in a minjmal edge contact at its angled edge 62 with the wire spring B. ~t this point in the switch 10, re~istance to ~urther switching movement is high, as a large number of similar switch positions have simultaneously occurred throughout. However, this high resistance to motion in the switch 10 is made less noticeable to the operator by the extra frictional resistance imparted by the actuator assemoly 20 and thus a complete traverse to the extreme desired switch position i5 more li~ely to occur.
The invention i5 in the field of mechanically actuated electrical switches, and more ~articularly concerns switches of a type havin~ a stationary member and rotatable member.
BACKGROUND OF THE IN~ENTION
In ~ome computer systems, multiple parallel buses are alternately connected by means o~ a mechanical switch or switches bein~ located between a central processor and various of peripheral apparatus, so that the /C~ computer system is conveniently confjgurable from time to time, as the occasion requiræs. One mechanical switch, which has recently become avajl~ble for this purpose, i5 ~nown as a dis~ switch, which is manufactured by Porta Data Corp. at 800 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, New Yor~, U.S.~. 11797, and sold with the traJe mar~ Wire Switch. The di~ switch, hereina~ter referred to simply as a switch, includes base and rotatahle members connected by an axle. The ~ase member includes group~ of wire spring electrical contact members, there bein~ typically three wire sprin~s to a group. The rotatable member includes contact bars, each of which corre6ponds with one of the wire spring groups. Each contact bar i5 of a 20 width 5uch that in either of two extreme switch positions it span~ two of the wire sprin~s, ma~ing an electrical connection between the wire springs~
while at the same time being DUt of contact with the remainin~ wire spring.
The rotatable member of the switch is movable between the extreme switch positions by means of a lever, which is ridgedly fixed to the rotatable member for convenient manual operation of the switch. Howe~er, experience with the switch has i11ustrated th~t some operators sometimes '7 ~ 3 fail to move the rotatable switch me~ber completely into one or the other ot the extreme switch Posjtions~ ~his occurrence i~ more frequent in switches having a large number of wire spring groups. ~pparently in switching, as the contact bars tra~erse the wire springs from one extreme switch position toward another, an increa6ed resi6tance to further movement occurs at a moment when each of the contact bars initially en~a~es a side of ~ wire spring which was previously not enga~ed. This increased ræsistance occurs simultaneously among the groups and it is often mista~en by the operator as an indication that the other e~treme switch position has been achieved Hence no further manual switching movement is attempted and an intermedjate or in~omplete switch position is effected.
This incomplæte switch position can result in various deleterious consequences. One exemplary consequence is that the computer system fails to operate properly, resulting in lost time until the switch position is torrected. ~nother more serious exemplary consequence is that the wire sprIng contacts are iust sufficiently connected for nor~al computer syste~
operation. However, some of the bar to wire spring contact areas can be 50 small that resulting concentrated current densities cause localized contact damage and so shorten the useful operational lifetime of the switch.
~0 SUMMA~Y OF THE INvENTION
It i~ an object of the invention to ~rovide an actuator for a rotatable switch~ which mor~ reliably conpletes a switchin~ operation between one extreme switch position and another extreme switch position.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the actuator imparts a substantially greater apparent resistance to a manual switching operation than does the switch itself, so that variations in frictional resistance to ,S??~ !tj r3 swltchlng movement are less apparent to a sw~tch oDerator.
In accordance with the ~nvent~on. a switch actuator ~s provided for effecting switching action between base and rotatable switch members, wherein the rotatable switch mernber is Dositionable between first and second extrerne switch positions. The switch actuator includes a couPlinc!
receptacle being defined adiacent a ~eripheral edoe of the rotatable switch me~,ber such that a central axis of the coupling receptacle i5 common with a radial of the rotatable switch rnernber. A DiVot receptacle is defined spaced from and in fixed relation to the base switch member and adjacent the couplinc? rece~tacle. such that it has an axis cornmon to the radial of the rotatable switch mernber when the rotatable switch mernber is of a Position intermediate the extreme switch positions. ~ lever extends through and is lodc?ed in the pivot receptacle. The lever includes an arm extending away from the switch members and also defines a connecting rod extendinq between the pivot receptacle and the coupling receptacle for coupling mechanical rotation therebetween. Frictional resistance to motion between the piVQt formation and the PiVot receptacle is imparted by resilient bias beinc?
provided bY a first spring co-axially carried by the connecting rod and a second sr?ring residing? oetween the connecting rod and the terminating end of the h~le.
~ lso in accordance with the invention! a bus switch comprises a substrate and a disk switch including base and rotatat~?le switch members.
The base switch mernber is fixed upon a surface of the substrate. The rotatable mernber is carried bY the base switch member and is positionable between first and second extreme switch Positions. ~ pivot receptacle is carried bv a face plate being fixed to an edoe of the substrate such that the pivot receDtacle is in fixed relation to the base switch ~emben, havinc?
3 ~
an axis comrnon to a rad~al of the rotatable swltch merrlber wher the rotatable switch member is positioned midwa~ between the extrerrle switch positions.
coupling recePtacle is defineo adiacent a peripheral edoe of the rotatable swltch member havinq a central axis comrnon with said radial. A lever includes a lever arm extending from a pivot formation being lodaed in the pivc,t receptacle with the lever arrn extending away from the switch rnernbers.
The lever defines a hole extendinr~ through the pivot formation and havina a terminating encd insicle the lever arm. A connecting rod is carried in the hole and extends into the coupling receptacle. A resilientlv cornpressible device i5 associated with the connection rod for imparting frictional resistance to motion between the PiVot forrnation and the pivot receDtacle.
BPIEF DESORIPT10~ OF THE DRAI~INGS
An examPle embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accomPanyincl drawings in which:
Figure I is a Dlan view of a bus switch including a switch actuator assemblY in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial cut awav F~lan view of the switch actuator assemblY in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a vertica7 elevatiQnal view which illustrates part of the bus switch in Fiaure 1: and 3~
Flgures 4a, 4~ and 4c illustrate s~ne contact switch po~itions ir, thæ
operatjon of a Wire Switch ~s used in Figure I.
DESCRIPTI~N OF T~E EX~MPLE EMBODIMEN~
Referring to Figure I o~ the drawingst the bus switch includes a switch 10, for example a Wire Switch. The 6witch 10 includes a rotatable member axially mounteJ at 11 upon a base or stationary member, hidden from view and su6~f~ ~ J~/~ c~a~/c which is carried by aAprintecl circuit board 12. The ~rinted circuit board 12 carries conductors (not shown~ which are connected between various /0 terminals of electrical connectors 13a, l~b and 13c and wire spring contacts in the stationary member of the 5Wi tch 10. The wire contact~ and correspondin~ connectin~ bars are later described with reference to Figures 4a-4c. The bus switch also includes a face plate 15 fixed to the printeJ
circuit board 12 by a brac~et 16a and rivets 16. The printed circuit board 12 also includes a notch being defined by side walls 17 and a bac~ wall 18 which is hidden from view in Figure 1. ~ switch actuator, generally illustrated at 20 is retained in the face ~late 15 by nuts 21 and 22 engaged with a threaded barrel 23. ~ lever 30, in the switch actuator assembly 20, jc connected with a coupling plate 40, which is ~ixed by fastenærs 44a to a 20 protrusion IOa of the rotatable member of the switch 10, for transmission of mechanical m~tion betwæen the actuator assembly ~0 and the rotatable member of the switch IO.
The actuator assem~1y i5 secured by the nuts 21 and 22 and a loc~
washer 22a in an orifice 19 in the face plate I5, a5 shown in ~iQure 2. The le~ær 30 i5 illustrated to includæ a pivot formation 34 residing in a pivot receptacle 24 bein~ defined by an interior surface of the barrel 23.
1ements simi1ar to those illustratecl at 23 and 30 are purohasable from C&K
~omponents, ~nc., 15 Riverdale ~ve., Newton, M~ 02l58 U.S ~. In this particular embodiment, the pivot for~ation 34 and the pivot recePtacle co-act to Yield an o~nidirectional swivel action. The pivot formation 34 is bounded by an end face 38 into which an elongated hole 31 has been for~ed to receive a spring 33 and a conrecting rod 32, as shown.
~ portion of the coupling plate 40 illustrated ir, Figure 3, extends normal from the body of the coupling plate illustrated in Figure 1, and in Figure I is hidden behind the body of the coupling plate. ~ central position 43 of the coupling plate 40 receives an end of the connecting rod 3~ in a coupling receptacle being defined by an end wall 41 and side walls 42 divergjng there4rom. The spring 33 performs two functions. Firstly, the spring 33 ræsiljently urges the connecting rod into engagement with the coupling receptacle in the coupling plate 40. Secondly, the spring 33 provides a separating hias between the actuator assembly and the switch I0 such that the pivot fDrmation 34 is held in swivel contact with the pivot receptacle ~4. In the course of development of the bus switch, it was realized that a smoother, all be it slightly stiffer, switching action was achieved when the sprin~ 33 was provided by a very stiff spring ele~ent.
However as the dimensions of the spring 33 are limited t~ the physical 2Q dimensions of the elongated hole 3I, there i5 a practical limit to the maxi~um sprin~ stiffness available for a reasDnable pur~hase price Thus an additional spring 36 is carried co-axially in compression ~etween the end face 3B and the coupling plate 40 via a washer 37. As the dimensions Df the spring 3~ are at least twice in dia~eter as compared to the sprin~ 3I, a substantially greater separating bias i5 exerted. This greater ~ias imparts substantial extra frictional resistance to movement between the pivot formation 34 And the pivot receptacle 24.
In this embodiment the ~ivot formation and the pi~ot receptacle proviJe an omnidire~tional ~wivel action. Other forms of pivots, for exaMple thoçe limited to bidirectional motion b~ an axle pivot structure ar~ also envisaged as being useful. In the example embodiment the ball and soc~et structure results in a swivel action, which of necessity is confined or limited to a bidirectional movement, preferred for the Wire Switch, hy providing the coupling plate 40 in a form similar to that illustrated in Figure 3. The vertical elevation in Figure 3 is viewed from the face plate I5 loo~ing toward the coupling plate 40 and part of the printed circuit /C) board 12, portions of which are shown in section. Symmetrical lateral notches 44 and 45 are definæd at opposite ends of the coupling plate 40.
The coupling plate 40 resides in the notch being defined by the side walls 17 and the bac~ wall 18 of the printed circuit board I2. The notches 44 and 45 are in loose sliding engagement with the p~rtions of the printed circuit board 12 adjacent the side walls 17 and help to confine piVDt motion of the lever 30 to the plane of rotation of the rotatable member of the switch IO.
Figures 4a-4c are simplified illustrations of a transfer switch structure which is repeated in the switch IO. Each trans4er ~witch structure includes a group o~ wire spring contacts consjstin~ of wire 20 springs ~, e and B in combination with a corresponding conta~t b~r ~û h~ving angled edges ~I and 62. Figure 4a illustrates one extreme switch position wherein the contact bar 60 straddles and depresses the wire spring ~ and B.
This switch position corresponds to the lever 30 being in an ~ position in Figure 2. Figure 4b il1ustrates another extreme switch pQsitisn wherein the contact ~0 straddles and depresses the wire springs B and C. This switch position corre~ponds to the lever 30 being in a B position in Figure 2. In the example embodiment, a traverse of the lever 30 between the extreme swltch posItions ~ and B represents a travel through a distance y, corresponding to about 9 degrees of rotation. This in turn corresponds to a travel through a distance x which corresponcls to rotation of about 3 1/2 degrees at the coupling plate 40. Figure 4c illustrates a case wherein the contact bar 60 is in a position of an 1ncomplete traverse, having been moved from the position ~ toward the position B, that is through about 2 degrees of rotation at the coupling plate 40. In this posjtjon the contact bar 60 has released the wire sprinQ ~ and is in a minjmal edge contact at its angled edge 62 with the wire spring B. ~t this point in the switch 10, re~istance to ~urther switching movement is high, as a large number of similar switch positions have simultaneously occurred throughout. However, this high resistance to motion in the switch 10 is made less noticeable to the operator by the extra frictional resistance imparted by the actuator assemoly 20 and thus a complete traverse to the extreme desired switch position i5 more li~ely to occur.
Claims (6)
1. A bus switch comprising:
a substrate;
a disk switch including base and rotatable switch members, the base switch member being fixed upon a surface of the substrate, and the rotatable switch member being carried by the base switch member and being positionable between first and second extreme switch positions:
a face plate fixed to an edge of the substrate:
a pivot receptacle being carried by the face plate, spaced from and in fixed relation to the base switch member, and having an axis common to a radial of the rotatable switch member when the rotatable switch member in positioned midway between the extreme switch positions:
a coupling receptacle being defined adjacent a peripheral edge of the rotatable switch member and having a central axis common with said radial:
a lever including a lever arm extending from a pivot formation being lodged in the pivot receptacle, the lever arm extending away from the switch members, the lever defining a hole extending through the pivot formation and having a terminating end inside the lever arm;
a connecting rod carried in the hole and extending into the coupling reteptacle; and resiliently compressible means for imparting frictional resistance to motion between the pivot formation and the pivot receptacle.
a substrate;
a disk switch including base and rotatable switch members, the base switch member being fixed upon a surface of the substrate, and the rotatable switch member being carried by the base switch member and being positionable between first and second extreme switch positions:
a face plate fixed to an edge of the substrate:
a pivot receptacle being carried by the face plate, spaced from and in fixed relation to the base switch member, and having an axis common to a radial of the rotatable switch member when the rotatable switch member in positioned midway between the extreme switch positions:
a coupling receptacle being defined adjacent a peripheral edge of the rotatable switch member and having a central axis common with said radial:
a lever including a lever arm extending from a pivot formation being lodged in the pivot receptacle, the lever arm extending away from the switch members, the lever defining a hole extending through the pivot formation and having a terminating end inside the lever arm;
a connecting rod carried in the hole and extending into the coupling reteptacle; and resiliently compressible means for imparting frictional resistance to motion between the pivot formation and the pivot receptacle.
2. A bus switch as defined in claim 1 wherein the coupling receptacle is defined in a coupling plate which is fixed to the peripheral edge of the rotatable switch member and the compressible means comprises at least one resilient element positioned to exert a separating bias between the coupling plate and the pivot formation.
3. A bus switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient element comprises a spring residing between the terminating end of the hole and the connecting rod, whereby the connecting rod is resiliently urged toward the coupling receptacle.
4. A bus switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient element comprises a spring being co-axially carried by the connecting rod.
5. A bus switch as defined in claim 1 wherein the compressible means comprises a first spring co-axially carried by the connecting rod and a second spring residing between the connecting rod and the terminating end of the hole.
6. A switch actuator for effecting switching action between base and rotatable switch members wherein the rotatable switch member is positionable between first and second extreme switch positions the switch actuator comprising:
a coupling receptacle being defined adjacent a peripheral edge of the rotatable switch member and having a central axis common with a radial of the rotatable switch member:
a pivot receptacle being defined spaced from and in fixed relation to the base switch member and having an axis common to the radial of the rotatable switch member when it is of a position intermediate the extreme switch positions;
a lever including a lever arm extending from a pivot formation being lodged in the pivot receptacles the lever arm extending away from the switch members, the lever defining a hole extending through the pivot formation and having a terminating end inside the lever arm and a connecting rod carried in the hole and extending into the coupling receptacle; and a first spring co-axially carried by the connecting rod and a second spring residing between the connecting rod and the terminating end of the hole.
a coupling receptacle being defined adjacent a peripheral edge of the rotatable switch member and having a central axis common with a radial of the rotatable switch member:
a pivot receptacle being defined spaced from and in fixed relation to the base switch member and having an axis common to the radial of the rotatable switch member when it is of a position intermediate the extreme switch positions;
a lever including a lever arm extending from a pivot formation being lodged in the pivot receptacles the lever arm extending away from the switch members, the lever defining a hole extending through the pivot formation and having a terminating end inside the lever arm and a connecting rod carried in the hole and extending into the coupling receptacle; and a first spring co-axially carried by the connecting rod and a second spring residing between the connecting rod and the terminating end of the hole.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000456046A CA1237163A (en) | 1984-06-07 | 1984-06-07 | Bus switch with friction loaded actuation lever |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000456046A CA1237163A (en) | 1984-06-07 | 1984-06-07 | Bus switch with friction loaded actuation lever |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1237163A true CA1237163A (en) | 1988-05-24 |
Family
ID=4128050
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000456046A Expired CA1237163A (en) | 1984-06-07 | 1984-06-07 | Bus switch with friction loaded actuation lever |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1237163A (en) |
-
1984
- 1984-06-07 CA CA000456046A patent/CA1237163A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |