US2995042A - Switch actuator - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1961 c. F. SCHUNEMANN 2,995,042

SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed March 3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira 22:5? Car/ F 5015111262122 aim 1961 c. F. SCHUNEMANN 2,995,042

SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed March 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Carl Fjc'hzmemazzzz z: 1 7 4JZ6MW; MM E 1 1961 c. F. SCHUNEMANN 2,995,042

SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed March 3. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Eye firm Carl Ffic'hun ezzzazm tent Patented Aug. 8, 1961 2,995,042 SWITCH ACTUATQR Carl F. Schunernann, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Thompson Rania Waoidridge Inc, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,734 Claims. (ill. 74-45) This invention relates to a switching assembly for interconnecting high frequency transmission structures and to a switch actuating mechanism for selectively moving a switch element into a plurality of switching posit-ions.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a switch actuating system wherein the actuating motor can be brought up to speed before actuation of the switch element is initiated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuating system wherein the actuating motor can be stopped after the switch element has been moved to a desired switching position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved shuttle type waveguide switch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a waveguide switch wherein a switch element is spring urged into its switching positions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a waveguide switch having means for providing a visual indication of the condition of the switch.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shuttle type waveguide switch in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line IIIl of FIGURE 1, and showing parts in top plan;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 1IIIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational View of the structure of FIGURE 1 with a portion of the housing broken away to show certain parts in elevation; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of an indexing arrangement for the switch of FIGURE 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment comprises a shuttle type waveguide switch wherein a housing body part has a pair of curved wall portions 10a and 19b adapted to define waveguide channels such as indicated at 11 in cooperation with curved wall portions 13a and 13b of a shuttle type switch element 13. The bottom wall of the channel 11 is defined by a fiat surface 100 on which the switch element 13 slides, and a top wall of the channel 11 is defined by a surface 14a of a plate 14- which is suitably sealed to the housing body part 10, as by means of a sealant in sealing passages such as indicated at 100! in FIGURE 2. A mounting plate for the housing is indicated at 15. It will be understood that the exact orientation of the switch assembly depends on field conditions, so that the orientation of the switch assembly illustrated in the drawings is purely arbitrary. The name plate is normally afiixed to the housing in such an orientation that FIGURE 4 would constitute a top plan view of the assembly. For purposes of the present description, FIGURE 4 is taken as a side elevational view. The housing is enclosed by means of a plate 17 secured to plate 14 by means of screws 18 and gasket 20 and secured to the body part 14 by means of screws 19.

For guiding the reciprocating movement of shuttle switch element, a guide member 21 provides a planar guiding surface 21!: at right angles to the surface 100 of the body part. The guide member 21 has a pair of elongated slots 21b and 210 accommodating reciprocating movement of a pin 24 which is secured to the shuttle switch element 13. A set screw 26 retains the pin 24 in engagement with the element 13 and a lock nut 28 and preloaded tension spring washer 29 act on a ball guide 31 to retain the shuttle element 13 snugly against the wall surface Zia of guide member 21. To reduce friction, balls such as indicated at 33 are interposed between the ball guide 31 and guide member 21, and these balls 33 ride in elongated ball races such as indicated at 21d and 31a in FIGURE 2. Lock nut 28 is adjusted to preload spring washer 2a to 85:05 pound loading.

For shifting the shuttle element 13 between its switching positions, a shutle lever 40 is provided having a slot 40a receiving pin 24 as seen in FIGURE 3 and mounted on a lever shaft 42 for rocking movement in respective opposite directions. The slot 40a has a lost motion connection with the pin 24 to accommodate linear movement of pin 24 during arcuate movement of shuttle lever 40 about shaft 42,. The lever 46 has arms 4% and 40a which are coupled to arms 45a and 45b of a rocking lever 4-5 also mounted on the lever shaft 42. Compression springs =47 and 48 are interposed between the respective arms to that rocking movement of rocking lever 45 tends to compress one of the springs to urge the shuttle lever 40 to rock in the same direction. Adjustment screws 51 and 52 have body portions which are externally threaded over their entire length and are received in threaded holes in arm portions 45a and 45b. The body portions have reduced elongated end portions 51a and 52a extending within the springs 4'7 and 48 and the shoulders at the junctions between the ends of the body portions 51 and 52 and the end portions 51a and 52a are of diameter to engage the lower ends of springs 4-7 and 48 so that longitudinal adjustment of the screws 51 and 52 in the holes in the arm portions 45a and 45b adjusts the preloading of the springs 47 and 48. For example, screws 51 and 52 may be adjusted to load the shuttle 10.5 pounds:4.5 pounds against the corner blocks 10a and 10b with levers 4t) and 45 in their respective extreme positions.

The rocking lever 45 is driven by means of a crank 60 having a roller 61 cooperating with an internal cam surface 45c of rocking lever 45. In the illustrated embodiment, the crank 60 is mounted on a shaft 63 for continuous rotation in a given direction to rock lever 45 first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The lever 45 is rocked in the counterclockwise direction by engagement of roller 61 with arcuate cam surface portion 45d and is rocked in the clockwise direction by engagement of the roller 61 with the arcuate cam surface portion 45a. The arcuate cam surface portions 45d and 45e may have a radius of curvature equal to the distance from the center of shaft 63 to the outer surface of 61 so that the lever 45 will be substantially stationary as roller 61 travels along the arcuate surface portions. Between the arcuate surface portions 45d and 452, the roller 61 engages in groove portions 45 and 45g.

The crank 69 may have secured thereto at the end thereof opposite that carrying roller 61 a curved plate 66 for actuating arms 69 and of switches 72 and 73. it will be observed that with roller 61 engaging arcuate cam surface portions 45d to rock lever 45 to its extreme counterclockwise position, curved plate 66 will engage arm 70 to depress an actuating button of switch 73. An energizing circuit for motor driving shaft 63 is controlled by switch 76 so that when switch 73 is actuated by curved plate 66, the energizing circuit is opened to deenergize motor 80. At the same time, actuation of switch 73 may complete a dynamic braking circuit for the motor 80 to cause the motor to come to a stop more rapidly. In this way, the motor 80 is stopped while curved plate 66 still engages arm 70.

When motor 80 is energized through a second energizing circuit under the control of switch 72, crank 60 is turned in the clockwise direction until curved plate 66 engages actuating arm 69 of switch 72 to depress actuating button 72a thereof and open the second energizing circuit for the motor 80 and connect a second dynamic braking circuit with said motor to bring the motor to a stop while curved switch actuating plate 66 is still in engagement with arm 69.

It will be apparent from FIGURE 3 that, with the crank 69 in one stop position and with the motor stopped, when the motor is energized to move the shuttle switch element 30 to its opposite switching position, the motor 80 will have a relatively light load during the time when the roller 61 continues to travel along the 'arcuate cam surface portion 450? and until the time that crank 60 begins to move rocking lever 45 past its central position in the clockwise direction. Similarly, with the shuttle switch element in its opposite position from that shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 2, and with the motor stopped, the motor will be enabled to start with a relatively light load while the roller 61 travels along arcuate cam surface portion 45c and until the crank 60 moves lever 45 past its central position in the counterclockwise direction. Further, after the motor has been deenergized by engagement of the curved plate 66 with one of the arms 69 or 70, the motor has the angular range for overtravel corresponding to the angle subtended by the curved plate 66. The roller 61 rides on the arcuate cam surface portion 450! or 45s during this overtravel deceleration period locking the shuttle switch element 13 in the selected switching position and providing for lost motion between crank 60 and lever 45*. In other words, the motor 81? need not be stopped at the moment that switch shuttle element 13 reaches the selected switching position. Further, during the time that the motor is being brought to a stop, crank 60 and lever 45 are interlocked in such a way as to positively compress one of the springs 47 or 48 to urge the shuttle switch element 13 into the selected switching position.

The roller 61 on crank or drive transmission element 60 and the internal cam surface 45c of rocking lever or drive transmission element 45 comprise interengaging means arranged to move the rocking lever 45 from one extreme position to the other as the crank 60 is rotated in a given direction. It will be observed that the roller 61 while riding on the cam surface 45d locks the rocking lever 45 in its extreme counterclockwise position and while riding on the cam surface 45c locks lever 45 in its extreme clockwise position. Crank 60 is free to rotate without actuating the rocking lever 45 as long as roller 61 rides on cam surface 45d or 45c.

It will be understood that the motor 60 may be enclosed in a suitable housing 82 which is eltectively sealed to the housing body part 19 for example by means of a gasket 83. A suitable printed circuit indicated at 35 may be connected with the motor circuit and with the switches 72 and 73 to control operation of the motor. A resistor 88 may be included in the dynamic braking circuits for the motor previously mentioned and radio frequency noise filters may be housed in a casing 96 indicated in FIG- URE 1.

Indicator lamps may be associated with the housing for the switch and visible from the exterior thereof to indicate the position of switch shuttle element 13. Switches 95 and 96 indicated in FIGURE 4 may control these lamps and may have actuating buttons 95a and 96a which are adapted to be actuated by adjustable trip members 98 and 99 angularly adjustably secured by fastening means 101 and 102 to ball guide member 31. The trips 98 and 99 are adjusted so that switches 95 and 96 are actuated in the respective positions of switch element 13.

It will be understood that suitable waveguide terminal fixtures may be secured to the housing at the respective ends of the waveguide channel 11, for example, to accommodate the connection of waveguides with the switch assembly of the present invention.

A suitable electric circuit for the switch of FIGURES 1 to 4 is illustrated in FIGURE 5 and corresponding reference numerals have been utilized to designate generally corresponding parts. In the illustrated circuit, the motor is illustrated as comprising a DC. motor having a pair of energizing circuits which are selectively nergized by means of a switch 110. The switches 72 and 73 of FIGURE 3 controlling the respective energizing circuits for the motor 80 are illustrated as comprising switch arms 112 and 113 which are normally in engagement with contacts 114 and 115, but which are moved into engagement with contacts 118 and 119 when the corresponding switch actuating arms 69 and 70 are engaged by curved plate 66.

With switch arm 11% in the position illustrated, an energizing circuit would normally extend from battery 122 through contact 110, cont act 115, switch arm 113 (when deactuated), lines 124 and 125 to the positive ter minal of the motor, the negative terminal of the motor being grounded by means of line 127 to provide a return path to the battery 122. It will be understood that when the motor 80 is energized by means of the energizing circuit just described, crank 69 will be turned curved plate 66 engages actuating arm 70 of switch 73 to shift arm 113 into engagement with contact 119 as shown in FIGURE 5. At this time, the energizing circuit for motor 80 is interrupted. Further, the motor is connected with a dynamic braking circuit comprising resistor 88 and lead 130 leading to ground to shunt resistor 88 across the motor 80.

In the position of switch element 13 shown in FIG- URE 2 in dotted outline, switch 96 will be actuated to move arm 132 into engagement with contact 133 to complete an energizing circuit for lamp 135 to indicate the position of switch shuttle element 13.

If switch am 110 is moved to its opposite position to select the other switching position, a second energizing circuit for motor 80 is completed extending from battery 122 through contact 2110, contact 114, switch am 112, =1ine 125, and motor 80 to ground line 127. When curved plate 66 engages actuating arm 69 of switch 72, switch arm 112 makes contact with contact 118 to open the second energizing circuit for the motor and to connect the motor in a second dynamic braking circuit including lead 135 and resistor 88.

In this position of switch shuttle 13, switch 95 is actuated to move switch arm 137 into engagement with contact 138 and thus light lamp 140 indicating the opposite position of the switch.

Summary of operation In order to actuate the switch mechanism of the illustrated embodiment to move shuttle switch element 13 to its opposite switching position from that shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 2, voltage is supplied to contact 141 in FIGURE 5 in any suitable manner as by shifting switch arm 110 to its left hand position. Motor 80 is then energized to rotate crank 60, FIGURE 3, in a clockwise direction. During starting of the motor, roller 61 on crank arm 60 rides on constant radius arcuate cam surface portion 45d and encounters relatively little resistance to movement. The roller 61 then rides into recess 45g and rocks lever 45 in the clockwise direction compressing spring 47 and releasing the compression of spring 48. This causes shuttle lever 40 to rock in the clockwise direction about shaft 4-2 moving pin 24, FIGURES 1 and 3, to the right as seen in FIGURE 3 to move switch element 13, FIGURE 2, to its opposite. switchingposition. After switch element 13 has reached its switching position, motor 80 continues to be energized until curved actuanng plate 612 engages switch actuating arm 69 of switch 72 causing switch arm 112, FIGURE 5, to disengage contact 114 and engage contact 118. Engagement of contact 118 connects a dynamic braking circuit including resistor 88 across the motor 80 to cause the motor to come to a stop while curved actuating plate 66 is still in engagement with arm 70. Switch 73 is deactuated when curved plate 66 moves out of engagement with actuating arm 70, causing switch arm 113, FIGURE 5,

to move into engagement with contact 115. Thus, when switch element 13 has reached its opposite switching position, it may be returned to the switching position shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 2 by applying voltage to contacs 142 in FIGURE 5. The illustrated actuating mechanism thus accommodates lost motion between the motor drive shaft and the switch element at the time the motor is being started up, and also provides lost motion between the motor shaft and the switch element after the switch element has reached its switching position to accommodate stopping of the motor after the switch element has reached its selected switching position. Crank 60 locks the switch element in its selected switching position :after deenergization of the motor, and resilient means in the form of spring 47 or 48 is provided for resiliently urging the switch element into its selected switching position.

It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch assembly comprising a switch element movable between a first switching position and a second switching position, rocking lever means mounted on a fixed axis for rocking movement between a first angular position and a second angular position to move said switch element from said first switching position thereof to said second switching position thereof, said rocking lever means having an internal cam surface including opposite constant radius arcuate cam surface portions, rocking lever drive means mounted for rotary movement about an axis within the perimeter of said internal cam surface and engageable with said cam surface to rock said rocking lever means between said first and second angular positions thereof, and said constant radius cam surface portion accommodating angular movement of said drive means while said rocking iever means is stationary in said first and second angular positions thereof.

2. A switch assembly comprising a switch element mounted for reciprocation between first and second switching positions, shuttle lever means having a lost motion coupling with said switch element and mounted for rocking movement to shift said switch element between said first and second switching positions, said shuttle lever means having arm means projecting at either side thereof, rocking lever means mounted for rocking movement and having arm means projecting at either side thereof and opposing the respective arm means of said shuttle lever means, compression spring means interposed between the respective arm means of said shuttle lever means and said locking lever means to tend to cause the shuttle lever means to follow rocking movements of said rocking lever means, said rocking lever means having an internal cam surface operatively connected therewith, rocking lever drive means mounted for rotary movement about an axis within the perimeter of said internal cam surface and engageable with said cam surface to rock said rocking lever means in respective opposite directions, said cam surface accommodating angular movement of said drive means with said rocking lever means in opposite extreme angular positions, and means for rotating said rocking lever drive means to shift said switch element betwen its first and second switching positions.

3. A switch assembly comprising a switch element mounted for reciprocation between first and second switching positions, shuttle lever means having a lost motion coupling with said switch element and mounted for rocking movement to shift said switch element between said first and second switching positions, said shuttle lever means having arm means projecting at either side thereof, rocking lever means mounted for rocking movement and having arm means projecting at either side thereof and opposing the respective arm means of said shuttle lever means, compression spring means interposed between the respective arm means of said shuttle lever means and said locking lever means to tend to cause the shuttle lever means to follow rocking movements of said rocking lever means, said rocking lever means having an internal cam surface operatively connected therewith, rocking lever drive means mounted for rotary movement about an axis within the perimeter of said internal cam surface and engageable with said cam surface to rock said rocking lever means in respective opposite directions, said cam surface accommodating angular movement of said drive means with said rocking lever means in opposite extreme angular positions, means for rotating said rocking lever drive means to shift said switch element between its first and second switching positions, said rocking lever drive means carrying a curved plate of substantial arcuate extent, and switch means for deenergizing said drive means and engageable with said curved plate as said rocking lever means reaches one of said opposite extreme angular positions to initiate deceleration of said drive means, and said curved plate having sufiicient arcuate extent to maintain engagement with said switch means until said drive means has come to a stop with said rocking lever means in said one extreme angular position.

4. A switch assembly comprising a switch element mounted for reciprocation between first and second switching positions, shuttle lever means having a lost motion coupling with said switch element and mounted for rocking movement to shift said switch element between said first and second switching positions, said shuttle lever means having arm means projecting at either side thereof, rocking lever means mounted for rocking movement and having arm means projecting at either side thereof and opposing the respective arm means of said shuttle lever means, compression spring means interposed between the respective arm means of said shuttle lever means and said locking lever means to tend to cause the shuttle lever means to follow rocking movements of said rocking lever means, said rocking lever means having an internal cam surface operatively connected therewith, rocking lever drive means mounted for rotary movement about an axis within the perimeter of said internal cam surface and engageable with said cam surface to rock said rocking lever means in respective opposite directions, said cam surface accommodating angular movement of said drive means with said rocking lever means in opposite extreme angular positions, means for rotating said rocking lever drive means to shift said switch element between its first and second switching positions, a first housing part housing said rocking lever means and having a shaft pivotally mounting said rocking lever means in depending relation therefrom and pivotally mounting said shuttle lever means in upwardly extending relation therefrom, and second housing means having a downwardly opening slot for receiving said shuttle lever means and accommodating coupling of the shuttle lever means with said switch element.

5. In a switch assembly; a switch element; a switching member coupled to said element and movable between first and second positions to move said switch element between first and second switching positions; a drive member mounted for rotation about a fixed axis; a drive motor coupled to said drive member; inter engaging cam means on said members including a cam element on one member and cam surface means on the other for interengagement to move said switching member between said first and second positions when said drive member is rotated about said fixed axis by said drive motor between first and second stop positions; said cam surface means being concentric to said fixed axis for a continuous angular distance along said cam surface means which includes the point of engagement of said cam element with said cam surface means when said drive member is in its first stop position and in a substantial number of successively otfset first angular positions beyond its first stop position through which said drive member is accelerated in movement thereof by said drive motor to said second stop position, and which includes the point of engagement of said cam element with said cam surface means when said drive member is in its second stop position and in a substantial number of successively offset second angular positions beyond its second stop position through which said drive member is accelerated in movement thereof by said drive motor to said first stop position; means for energizing said drive motor to accelerate said drive member from any one of its stop positions and to rotate said drive member through the successively offset angular positions therebeyond during which said cam element engages said concentric cam surf-ace means and said switching member and switch element remain stationary, and thereafter to drive said switching member through the medium of said drive member and said interengaging References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 865,999 Coombs Sept. 17, 1907 874,289 Bemus Dec. 17, 1907 1,563,305 Ambler Nov. 24, 1925 1,609,292 Burch Dec. 7, 1926 1,791,819 Kull et a1. Feb. 10, 1931 1,814,608 Schuh et al. July 14, 1931 2,229,545 Beckstrom Jan. 21, 1941 2,661,404 Wasserman Dec. 1, 1953 2,696,568 Jepson Dec. 7, 1954 2,813,937 Diebold Nov. 19, 1957 2,827,613 Robison et al Mar. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 363,855 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1931

Images