ES352438A1 - Universal multiple switch - Google Patents

Abstract

A multiple electric switch has inner and outer cylindrical banks of contacts 30, 34, Fig. 2, selectively movable in sets for making and breaking with contacts of the corresponding set of the other bank. In the arrangement shown the contacts 30, 34 are located in recesses 80, 134 between stacks of inner and outer insulating rings 28, 32. The inner rings 32 are rigidly fixed on a base 16 supporting radially arranged printed circuit boards 36, Fig. 6, from which the inner contacts spring clips 34 project through to the outer surface of the cylindrical stack. The outer contacts 30 are located at enlarged regions 190 to project inwardly of the outer ring 28 and each ring is selectively rotatable by a toothed member 26, Fig. 10, clutched to a hollow actuating shaft 210 so that it moves to switched positions on each side of a neutral position located by detents 142, 144, 146 and spring 140. The rings 28 may be selectively rotated individually or are ganged together by a clutch device comprising a grooved shaft 224 carrying pins 226 engageable by balls 200 in recesses 204 of the actuation of shaft 210 and forcing them into recesses of the gear 26. Rotation of shaft 224, Fig. 9, to selected angles set by spring loaded detent device 238 determines the ring 28 to be rotated by the operating shaft 210. In ganged operation the shaft 224 is extracted endwise to a position set by detents 222 whereby further balls 201 are forced radially outwardly from the grooves 225 to engage in all the recesses 94 of the gears 26. The spring clip contacts 34, Fig. 7, have opposing diagonal contact ribs 170, 172 at rightangles to each other. The rigid wiping contacts 30 have tapered rounded ends 192, providing point contact with the ribs 170, 172.