GB1326400A - Actuator assemblies for electric switches - Google Patents

Abstract

1326400 Mechanical switches ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS Inc 1 Dec 1970 [1 Dec 1969] 57092/70 Heading H1N An actuator assembly for simultaneously operating a plurality of switches 22, 24 by a single pivoted operating lever 16, comprises a rocking actuator member 30 having a portion 32, 34 selectively movable into operative engagement with one or more of the switches by movement of the lever 16, wherein the lever 16 carries a roller 58 biased towards one or more rod members (such as 52b or 52d) mounted on the actuator 30 parallel to the axis of the roller 58, to move the actuator 30 by selective transference of the biasing force from one place on the, or a, rod member to another place on the, or another, rod member as lever 16 is moved. As shown, the actuator 30 comprises two side walls 48 and a base portion providing noses 32, 34, and is pivoted at 28. Five pairs of aligned holes, 50a to 50e, in the walls 48 may receive rod members according to the desired type of switch action. As shown in Fig. 1 a rod 52c carrying a roller 54 is provided in the central pair of holes 50c and the lever 16 has two positions only, the switches 22 being retained operated in one position and switches 24 in the other. If the rod 52c and its roller 54 are omitted the lever 16 has a central neutral position (Fig. 5, not shown). If a pair of rods carrying a metal band (72a, Figs. 3 and 4, not shown) are inserted in holes 50a and 50b (or in holes 50d and 50e) the roller 58 does not go overcentre and the action of lever 16 is retractive. Thus twoway retraction (Fig. 3, not shown) may be provided, or a combination of retraction one side and maintained set the other side may be provided (Fig. 4, not shown). Portions of actuator 30 may engage the switch plungers 22<SP>1</SP>, 241 directly as in Fig. 4 (not shown) but preferably the noses 32, 34 act on springs 38, 40 secured to rods 42, 44 whereby a plurality of switches 22, 24 may be operated over a wider range of manufacturing tolerances. The rods 42, 44 may extend beyond the side walls of housing 12 to operate switches mounted exteriorly thereof (Fig. 2, not shown). As shown, two rollers 58 on an axle 60 are carried by lever 16, but to avoid the possibility of the lever 16 being stable in an intermediate position if the axes of rollers 58 and a rod 52b (or the like) are not strictly parallel, a unitary roller construction (58<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 7, not shown) may be provided.