GB1399577A - Resettable electric switch - Google Patents

Abstract

1399577 Scoring apparatus AMP INC 21 May 1973 [13 June 1972] 24032/73 Heading A6D [Also in Divisions G4 and H1] A thumbwheel operated switch module, Fig. 5, having a common reset mechanism for a row of such modules, Fig. 2, is used for transmitting scores to a display unit (Fig. 1, not shown). A cup-shaped number wheel 34 which carries a contact brush 42 for selective engagement with fixed contacts 30 on a printed circuit board 26 is rotated by means of the thumbwheel 70 through a spring biased disconnectable clutch unit 58 and slidable splines 62 on a stem 60 passing through a bearing sleeve 50 of a cover unit 48 which in turn serves to provide an annular recess 46 for housing the number wheel on its one side and an annular pocket 52 for housing the clutch spring 54 on its other side. The thumbwheel 70 is detented for location of its position by a spring 99. Each switch module is contained within a housing 82 and a reset shaft 72, independently movable both axially and rotationally within a central aperture in the various elements, has key and socket ends 74, 76 for mating with adjacent shafts and a thrust collar 84 carrying a tooth 104 which is engageable during shaft rotation with a cooperating tooth 64 on the face of the clutch plate. The reset mechanism, Figs. 3 and 4, operates on a coupled row of reset shafts, and causes the thrust collars 84 to disengage each clutch plate from its associated thumbwheel during axial motion with the consequential resetting to zero of each number wheel independently of the position of its thumbwheel during rotational movement. For the axial movement a lever 138 is operated by knob 152 being moved to the left in L- shaped slot 124 and thus pushing it against pinion 116 which is mated within a socket end 76 as well as bringing a rack 142 into engagement with the pinion. For the rotational movement the rack is moved transversely to the pinion by pressing the lever downwards and on release a return spring 148 initiates reverse rotation of the pinion whereupon the shafts restore their respective reset teeth 104 to their original position. On final movement of the lever to the right all clutch plates are re-engaged with their thumbwheels. . An alternative embodiment (Fig. 12-16 not shown) incorporates a bevel gear drive to the clutch plate from a serrated thumbwheel of larger effective diameter and with a different locating spring arrangement.