US2817721A

US2817721A - Rotating internal contact miniature switch

Info

Publication number: US2817721A
Application number: US571843A
Authority: US
Inventors: William R Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-03-15
Filing date: 1956-03-15
Publication date: 1957-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-24

Description

ROTATING INTERNAL coNTAcT MINIATURE SWITCH Filed March 15, 1956 Dec. 24, 1957 w. R. EDWARDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig INVENTOR WILL /AM 1?. EDWARDS ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1957 w. R. EDWARDS 2,817,721

ROTATING INTERNAL CONTACT MINIATURE SWITCH Filed March 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F i9. 8 INVENTOR WILLIAM R. EDWARDS United States Patent ROTATING INTERNAL CONTACT MINIATURE SWITCH William R. Edwards, California, Md.

Application March 15, 1956,ScrialJNo. 571,843

r 4 Claims. (Cl.-200--6) (Granted under Titie 35, U'.'S.'Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any-royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to a multiple position miniature internal contact rotary switch adapted for panel installation and which may be used to control aplurality of electric circuits.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a miniature rotary switch of the character described which is of simple construction and few parts and that may be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a miniature rotary switch of the character described which is'of compact size particularly adapted for applications where space is limited.

It is a further object of the present invention to'provide a'miniature rotary switch of the character described that is of sturdy construction to provide reliable, troublefree operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of the contact housing and actuator along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section of a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a section of the contact housing and actuator along line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section of a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a section of the contact housing and actuator along line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a section along line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section of the contact housing and actuator along line 99 of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. 1 a cup shaped, insulative, contact housing, generally indicated by the reference numeral 11, having a disc shaped end portion 12, and a threaded tubular portion 13. Peripheral stationary contacts 14, of palladium coated wire, for example, are imbedded in and circumferentially spaced about the interior surface of tubular portion 13. An axial contact is accommodated by end portion 12. A cylindrical actuator of insulative material, generally indicated by reference numeral 16, has a handle portion 17, a central portion 18 of enlarged diameter provided with a transverse bore 19, and an end portion 20 rotatably received within contact housing 11. One face of central ICE portion 18 abuts die rim of contacthousing 11. A rectangularly shaped spring contact21,preferably formed from palladium wire, is locatedin a rectangular groove or notch 22 in endportion20. Springcontact 21resiliently engages axial contact 15 andisselectively andresilientlyengageable with peripheral contacts 14 upon rotation of actuator 16. .All contactsurfaces are. preferably rhodium plated. A sleevee23- encompasses central portion 18 and a part of tubularportion 1'3. Sleeve 23 is provided withsa flange. Mabuttingthe OthfiLfElCC of central portion 18. A pin 25. passes transversely through sleeve23 and engages tubular portion 13-whereby relative longitudinal displacementof contact housing 11 and actuator 16is prevented. Sleeve 23.has formedtherein {'li plurality of circumferentially spaced. indentations. 26 lying in the plane or bore 19. Indentations 26 equal in number peripheral contacts 14 and are oriented therewith. A spring pressed ball detent is. located .in bore 19 and is engageable with indentations 26 whereby actuator 16 may be. resiliently retained in eachof a plurality of contact engaging positions. Contact housing 11 may be passed through an aperture of suitable diameter in a mounting panel (shown in dotted lines) .and. retained therein by a nut 27.

The embodiment of tthe invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the embodiment showninFigs. l and 2, but, the vend portion 40.of actuator. 36 has been modified to accommodate a spring contact 41 having a straight central portion 42 and

areuate end portions

43 and 44, which latter lie on the cylindricalsurface of end portion 40. Spring contact 41 is in a plane perpendicular to the axis of actuator 36.

End portions

43, 44 are each of sufiicient length to bridge two ormore of peripheral contacts 34.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, tubular portion 53 of contacthousing 51 is'of'a length sufiicient to accommodate a'plurality of circumferentially spaced rows of contacts'54. Each row 'ofcontacts 54 lies in a plane which includes the axis of contact housing 51. End portion 60 of actuator 56 has been modified to accommodate a spring contact 61 having a straight central portion 62 and straight spaced

parallel end portions

63 and 64 which lie in a plane including the axis of actuator 56. Contact

end portions

63, 64 are of a length sufiicient to bridge all of the contacts of any of the peripheral rows of contacts 54. While no axial contact has been shown, end portion 52 of contact housing 51 is provided with a recess 55 to accommodate an axial contact should the inclusion thereof be desirable.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the invention adapted to control simultaneously each of two sets of independent circuits. In addition to spring contact 81, similar in all respects to spring contact 61, the embodiment of Figs. 7, 8 and 9 also includes a second spring contact 61, the embodiment of Figs. 7, 8 and 9 also includes a second spring contact 91 similar in appearance to

spring contacts

61 and 81 but having end portions 93, 94'of increased length which may terminate in retaining

fingers

95, 96. Housing 71 is of sufiicient length to accommodate the additional contact 91. An insulative plug 97 having a slot in one face thereof to accommodate the central portion 92 of contact 91 is provided to electrically

separate contacts

81 and 91. In an alternative form of construction, end portion of actuator 76 may be provided with two respectively perpendicular slots in the face thereof with one slot being of greater depth than the other.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A miniature rotary switch comprising: a cup shaped contact housing provided with a plurality of contacts circumferentially spaced about the axis of said housing on the interior surface of the depending portion thereof, said contacts each comprising a wire end embedded in said housing, a central contact comprising a wire end embedded in the bottom portion or" said housing on the axis thereof, an actuator having one end thereof rotatably received by said contact housing, resilient contact means supported by said actuator adjacent said one end in contact with said central contact and selectively engageable with said circumferentially spaced contacts upon rotation of said actuator, said actuator having an enlarged central portion provided with a transverse bore and having a face abutting the rim of said contact housing, a spring and ball detent means in said bore, a sleeve encompassing said enlarged central portion and at least a portion of said contact housing, said sleeve having a flange abutting the other face of said enlarged central portion remote from said contact housing, and a fastener element extending transversely of said sleeve and engaging said contact housing whereby relative longitudinal displacement of said contact housing and said actuator is prevented, said sleeve being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced indentations in the plane of said spring on ball detent means and oriented with respect to said plurality of contacts whereby said actuator may be resiliently retained in each of a plurality of contact engaging positions.

2. A miniature rotary switch comprising: a cylindrical cup shaped contact housing provided with an axial contact in the end portion thereof and a plurality of circumferentially spaced contacts on the interior surface of the tubular portion thereof, a cylindrical actuator having one end thereof rotatably received by said contact housing, a recess provided in said one end of said actuator in a plane including the axis of said actuator, and a resilient contact member in said recess in engagement with said axial contact and selectively engageable with said circumferentially spaced contacts upon rotation of said actuator,

said resilient contact member comprising a spring contact member having two pairs of straight, spaced, parallel sides with at least two of said sides being perpendicular to each other.

3. A miniature rotary switch comprising: a cylindrical cup shaped contact housing provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced rows of contacts disposed on the interior surface of the tubular portion of said contact housing, said rows of contacts lying in planes including the axis of said contact housing, a cylindrical actuator having one end thereof rotatably received by said contact housing, and a resilient contact means supported by said actuator adjacent said one end and selectively engageable with said circumferentially spaced rows of contacts upon rotation of said actuator, said resilient contact means comprising a spring wire contact member having a straight central portion and spaced parallel end portions perpendicular to said straight central portion, said end portions lying on the cylindrical surface of said actuator in a plane including the axis of said actuator.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein: said resilient contact means further comprises a second spring wire contact member having a configuration identical to said first mentioned spring contact member, the end portions of said second spring contact member lying on the cylindrical surface of said actuator in a plane including the axis of said actuator and perpendicular to the plane of said first mentioned spring contact member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,289,595 Alsop Dec. 31, 1918 1,499,236 McMillan June 24, 1924 2,028,587 Brustlein Ian. 21, 1936 2,498,805 Gurevsky Feb. 28, 1950 2,503,287 Moore Apr. 11, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 235,724 Germany June 19, 1911 330,269 Germany Dec. 10, 1920 674,176 Great Britain June 18, 1952 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,817,721 December 24, 1957 William R, Edwards It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Let uers Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 16, for "or" read of

lines

53, 54, and 55, strike outtgrne embodiment of Figs '7, 8 and 9 also includes a second spring con- Signed. and sealed this 1st day of April 1958.

(SEAL) Atfiest:

L KAR H AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Gonmissioner of Patents U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent ,721 December 24, 1957 William Ra Edwards It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Let oers Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 16, for "or" read of

lines

53, 54, and 55, strike zutt'lgie embodiment of Figs 7, 8 and 9 also includes a second spring con-- ac I Signed. and sealed this let day of April 1958,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ha AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents