US3142187A

US3142187A - Rotatable switch actuators

Info

Publication number: US3142187A
Application number: US77580A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kane Hugh; Robert A Pusch
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1960-12-22
Filing date: 1960-12-22
Publication date: 1964-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1981-07-28

Description

July 28, 1964 H. KANE EI'AL 7 ROTATABLE swrrca ACTUATORS Filed Dec. 22, 1960 a Sheets-Shoot 2 1 INVENTORS' HUGH KANE By ROBERT A. PUSCH ATTORNEY y 28, 1964 i H. KANE ETAL 3,142,187

ROTATABLE SWITCH ACTUATORS Filed Dec. 22, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 7

6 2 20 199 H2 22 I54 '8 I '1': I O 12 f 9 I4 9 leo 0 II 7 J 0 use INVENTORS HUGH KAN E ROBERT A. PUSOH wamfld ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,142,187 ROTATAIELE SWITQH ACTUATQRS Hugh Kane, Normal, and Robert A. Pusch, Le Roy, Ill., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 22, 196i), Ser. No. 77,580 2 (Ilalms. ill. 74--Itl7) This invention relates to manually operated electrical selector switches and particularly to a rotatable switch actuator adapted for small size and compact assembly.

Selector switches are mechanisms for making or breaking electrical contacts. The operation may be momentarily under actuation, or the actuated condition may be latched. The switch contacts, in turn, control the energization of various electrical or electromechanical devices or motors. Such selector switches have actuator mechanism units that are of the push button type. This invention relates to the rotatable form of actuator unit which will hereinafter be referred to as a turn button actuator. These switches also have contact mechanism units, or contact blocks, that are attached to the actuator units to be actuated thereby.

In mounting a plurality of these switches on a panel, presently available components generally require that they be rather widely spaced in order to insure ample room for connecting electrical connectors to the contact block. In addition, the operating mechanisms of the available components generally require more than five square inches of panel area per unit. This invention is concerned with providing a switch actuator that is about half that size or less, for example, this area may be little more than one (1) inch square. Moreover, the construction is intended to permit close spacing between switch units of the order of a quarter of an inch even though each unit is to be accessible for operation and for assembly or/ and removal from the panel.

This invention is also concerned with providing a plurality of different actuator units that may be combined in various ways and may be attached to and actuate differently a common contact block module. The actuator units are also arranged to have certain common structua] features adapting them to be interchangeable in use with the contact block.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved switch actuator construction.

Another object is to provide a new and improved rotatable switch actuator that is small in size and effective and reliable in operation.

Another object is to provide new and improved rotatable switch actuator constructions that are adapted to be used interchangeably with a contact block unit.

Another object is to provide a new and improved rotatable switch actuator having a spring return operation.

In carrying out this invention in one preferred embodiment, a rotatable switch actuator includes a hollow base, a switch actuating shaft mechanism rotatably mounted in said base, and a turn button handle for rotating the actuating mechanism. The handle is removably coupled to the actuating shaft by means of an axial socket and stub shaft coupling at one end of the shaft. The switch actuation is by means of a cam at the other end of the actuating shaft. In this preferred embodiment, the turn button handle is rotatably mounted on a clamping ring which is removably fastened to the base.

In mounting the actuating shaft within the hollow base, bearings therefor are provided at each end, and a means for controlling the rotary position of the shaft is mounted between the bearings.

In one form of the invention, the actuating shaft is maintained in rotary position by means of a ball and detent mechanism. In a second form of the invention,

Fatented July 28, 1964 the actuating shaft is rotated from a normal position against the action of a coil spring that is wrapped around the shaft and that is effective to restore the shaft upon its release.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the features thereof as well as the invention itself may be more fully understood from the following description when read together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged elevational view partly in section of a switch construction embodying this invention,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged exploded view in perspective of theactuator mechanism of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the cam used in the actuator mechanism of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevational view in section at right angles to the sectional view of FIGURE 1, and incorporating a modification of the handle construction,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged elevational View partly in section of another switch actuator embodying this in vention,

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 83 of FIGURE 7, and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 FIGURE 7.

In the drawing corresponding parts are referred by the same numerals.

The switch of FIGURE 1 includes an actuator unit Ill and a contact unit, or contact block 12. The actuator unit includes a base I4 of generally cylindrical form. A cylindrical passage 16 extends through the base and is interrupted by two axially spaced annular flanges It and 26 that project inwardly at the upper (or outer) end of the base. A packing gland 22 is mounted in the annular space between the flanges I8 and 2d.

The base I4 is mounted on an instrument panel 24 by means of a knurled clamping ring 26 which is internally threaded and fastened to the threaded upper end of the base. The panel is clamped between the ring 26 and an externally projecting flange 2% on the base; washers (it), a sealing ring 32, and a positioning plate 34 are used in a well-known manner between the ring 26 and flange 2% to ensure proper clamping and sealing of the base on the mounting panel 24. The positioning plate 34 includes a bent-down lug that fits in a notch in the panel 24 and a tongue that fits in a groove along the base, all in a well-known manner in order to index the positioning of the base on the panel.

A switch actuating mechanism is rotatably mounted in the base 14, and it includes a shaft 36. The shaft has a cylindrical upper portion 38 that rotates within the base flanges l8 and 2i). A flange 4%, extending outwardly from the shaft bears against the underside of the base flange 20. Surrounding a reduced intermediate portion 4-2 of the shaft 36 are two

rings

46 and 48 having flanged inner portions 59 bearing against the shaft portion 42 and held there by a collar 44 that overlaps the flanges fit) of both

rings

46 and 48.

A coiled extension spring 52 is wrapped part way around the collar 44 and secured to hooks 54, 56 projecting from the rings 45, 48. The rings 46 and it; also have fingers 58 and 6t projecting from them in the samel direction as the

hooks

54 and 56. The hooks S4, 56 are bent down from the rings at a radial position similar to that of the shaft flange 4d; the

fingers

58, 60 extend radially slightly further beyond the radial position of the hooks. The portion 62 of the ring 46 between the hook 54 and finger 58 is cut away to form a shoulder 63, at the elements. Ring 48 has a similar cut away annals? portion 64 forming shoulder 65. A washer 66 whose diameter is substantially equal to the diameter of the base passage 16 is mounted by the base to rotatably receive the shaft portion 42.

The lower end of the shaft portion 42 is squared to fit in a similarly shaped recess 68 of a cam disk 7t: so that the latter can be fastened and held for rotation with the shaft 36. The earn disk it? has a tongue 72 that projects through a concentric circular groove 74 in the washer do and engages in the cut away portion 64 of the ring 43 and normally against the shoulder 65 of the ring 4%. The cam disk 70 has a downwardly facing cam surface with three dwell portions (FTGURE a low portion 74, a high portion 76, and an intermediate portion 7%. A second such cam surface is provided with the same

dwell portions

74, 76', 78'; however, if desired, dilferent cam shapes may be used for the two cam surfaces. Projecting down from the flange 49 is a tongue 3i) that engages against the shoulder 63 of ring do.

in assembling the actuator mechanism wi hin the base, the shaft as, rings 46, 48, collar 4 3-, spring 52 and washer on are placed tnerein as shown. The grooved washer 66 is in its normal position with the tongue 72 arranged to be centered in the groove '74. An index tab 82 on the washer is slidably positioned within a groove extending along the wall of the base 14. An internal rib 8d (FIGURES 2 and 6) along the wall of the base 14 projecting down from the flange l8 fits in the space be tween the two tongues 58 and Gil. The washer as is fastened to the wall of the base by staking or the like to retain the shaft 36 and its assembled mechanism, between the washer and the base flange 13. The cam disk 7 ii is fastened to the shaft as by the screw Attached to the base 14 are the two casing halves 93 of the contact block 12. These casings 83 and 9%? may have the same switch and contact structure or variations thereof. Only the contents of casing 88 are illustrated in detail.

An operating plunger 92 extends down from an actuator compartment )4 (into which the lower part of the base 14 is secured in mating fashion), in which the plunger 92 is actuated by the cam surfaces 74, 76, 73. The other end of the plunger 92 is biased upwards by a coil spring 96 to maintain engagement with the cam surfaces. Contact bars 98 and 16%) secured to the plunger 92 make bridging contact with a pair of upper fixed contacts N2 and a pair of lower fixed contacts res, respectively, when the plunger 92 is engaged by the low cam dwell 74, and the high dwell 76. When engaged by the intermediate dwell '78, the contact bars are in a neutral position, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Separate connector elements 1% are attached to each of the fixed contacts to provide electrical access thereto via openings at the bottom of the casing 33.

Manual operation of the actuator is by a knurled handle or turn button 110 from which an integrally formed square stub 112 projects. The button lit? and stub 112 are rotatably retained within the ring clamp by a C-clamp 114 that fits within a groove between the stub and the ring clamp 26. The stub 112 mates with a square socket lid axially formed in the face of the shaft portion 33.

The relative positions of the stub 112 within the ring clamp 26 and of the socket lit? at the top of the base 14 are such that the stub and socket engage before the threads of the ring clamp and base do. That is, for example, the stub 112 is substantially even with the edge of the ring clamp and the socket is likewise even with the top of the base, while a measure of overlap of ring clamp and base is necessary to engage the screw threads thereof. This construction facilitates assembly of the unit in that the operator can feel when the stub and socket are meshed, before the threads engage, and the clamp is then movable to engage and tighten the threads.

In operation, the turn button lid is in a neutral position corresponding for example, to the neutral operating plunger position illustrated in FIGURE 1. In this position, the extension spring 52 is in a substantially unextended, or slightly extended condition. The finger shoulders s3 and both bear against their respective tongues tit and 72, which function as limit stops for movements opposite to the respective arrows 12d and 122 (FIGURE 4). The finger shoulders 63 and as also bear against the rib 84 from opposite sides.

Manual operation of the turn button lit) in the counter clockwise direction is transmitted through the stub and socket coupling to similarly rotate the shaft 36 as indicated by arrow 124-. The tongue 36 on the shaft 36 and engaging shoulder 63 similarly rotates ring 46 (arrow 12%) to extend or stretch spring 52 via hook 5 3 (arrow 12.6). The rib on the stationary base wall holds finger 6t) from such rotation notwithstanding rotation of tongue 72 with the shaft. Thus, the other end of the spring is held stationary via hook 56, and stationary ring The tongue 72 acts as a limit stop within the washer groove 74. to permit as much rotation as required to move the cam disk over the operating plunger 92 (arrow 123) from neutral cam dwell 78 to high dwell 76. This action depresses the operating plunger to bridge the lower contacts 1M- with contact bar Mitt.

Upon release of the turn button lit), the extended spring restores the turn button llltl to its normal, neutral position. This action is effected by a clockwise pull on the ring 46 which similarly rotates shaft 36 via the finger 58 and tongue fit).

The operation of the turn button in the clockwise direction from its neutral position is transmitted via the shaft 36 and cam tongue 72 (arrows 136 and 132) to the ring finger oil. This extends or stretches the spring 52 via hook 56. The general operation is similar to that described for the other direction of rotation. Cam tongue '72 acts as a limit stop in groove 74 in this operation also. Indicators (not shown) on the button and clamp ring or mounting panel mark the position of the handle.

This spring return construction, it is found, provides a compact and reliable structure. Less space is required than for a torsion spring, for example. The extension spring 52 is favored over a compression spring arrangement of a similar sort, because the former does not tend to expand, as does the latter, when stressed and a higher degree of compactness is afforded.

The turn button and clamping ring sub-assembly are effective in reducing the overall diameter of the actuator unit to about one inch. That is the turn button is as large as the clamping ring 26, and the formers size is limited thereto by the ordinary manual dexterity and strength of an operator.

A modification of the stub and socket coupling of the turn button and shaft is illustrated in FIGURE 6, in which parts similar to those previously described are referenced by the same numerals and modified parts by the same numerals with the addition of a prime The turn button 110' and clamping ring 26' are made of plastic, otherwise the latter is unchanged. The stub 112 on the turn button lid is also made of plastic and is cylindrical in shape with a square socket therein. The socket 116 in the shaft 36' is also cylindrical and contains an axially formed square stub Mt) that mates with the square socket in the turn button. The square stub ll-dtl extends above the surface of the base 14'- in order to permit meshing With its socket before engaging of the clamping ring threads.

By means of this construction, a reliable coupling is provided. The cylindrical plastic stub 112 is held in compression by the wall of the mating socket 116' as the shearing forces of the square stub Mil are applied to the mating plastic socket. That is, the arrangement ensures that forces from metal to plastic are transmitted 011 to 55 metal to hold the plastic stub from flowing or shearing under the turning forces.

Another turn button switch actuator 150 is shown in FEGURES 7 and 9; parts corresponding to those previously described are referenced by the same numerals.

The turn button 110 is axially coupled by a stub 112 and socket joint to an actuator shaft 152 which has a shouldered portion 154 bearing against the base flange 18. The central portion of the shaft 152 contains a diametrical detent passage 156. A single compression spring 158 within the passage presses equally on detent balls 16% and 162 at either end. These balls are received within either of two pairs of V-shaped detent recesses 164-, 166 and 163, 17h, respectively, which are formed in the inner wall of the hollow base 14. A tongue 172 projects radially inward from the wall of the base underneath the flange 18 and into a groove .174 cut into the shoulder 154. The shaft 152 is retained in position by means of a washer 176, in which the lower reduced end of the shaft is rotatably mounted. The washer 176 is retained in position after assembly by staking or the like.

A cam disk 178 having a plurality of

cams

180, 182 integrally formed is axially secured to the shaft 152. Each cam ha stwo dwell

positions

184, 186, high and low, corresponding respectively to the two operating plunger positions bridging the lower fixed contacts 104 and the upper fixed contacts Hi2 (FIGURE 1). The pair of detent recesses 168, 1.70 and 164, 166 correspond to the engagement of the operating plunger 92 with the high and low cam dwell positions 134 and 186. The tongue 172 and groove 174 are dimensioned to provide a limit stop for each of the detent positions. The cams 18d and 1182 may have three dwell positions corresponding to that of FEGURE 5, in which case a third neutral detent position would be provided by a third intermediate pair of opposed recesses (not shown). The neutral detent positions would correspond to a neutral operating plunger position.

In operation, the turn button 110 is manipulated in opposite directions to reciprocate the operating plunger 92. The

detent balls

160, 162 ride smoothly in and out of the pairs of opposed recesses. The single spring 158 biasing the two balls equally ensures smoothness of action in and out of the recesses without binding. Moreover, the equal pressure on the two detent balls tends to center the shaft 152 within the base as the shaft rotates between detented positions, under the rolling action of the balls.

Details of construction and operation of the contact block 12 are disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Pusch et al., assigned to the same assignee as that of this application, Push Button Switch Structure, Serial No. 77,576, filed December 22, 1960, now Patent No. 3,118,026.

The above described switch construction is effective and reliable in operation as well as small in size. The actuator units are interchangeable for use with a contact block, except that an appropriate cam is required for the desired operation.

Various modifications of the foregoing features of this invention may be made, and it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific form that is described.

What is claimed is:

l. A rotatable switch actuator comprising a hollow base, a shaft rotatably mounted in said base and having means for actuating a switch operator, a coil spring wrapped around said shaft, and a pair of rotatable rings surrounding said shaft and having hooks respectively secured to opposite ends of said spring, said hooks being spaced angularly about the axis of said shaft relative to each other when the shaft is in a neutral position, each ring having also a radially extending finger spaced angularly about the shaft axis with respect to its associated hook, said fingers also being spaced angularly about the shaft axis with respect to each other when the shaft is in said neutral position, said base having a rib extending into the space between said fingers to prevent rotation of said rings simultaneously in the same direction, said shaft having axially extending tongues respectively engaging shoulders of said fingers, one of said rings being rotated in one direction by engagement of its finger shoulder with one of said tongues in response to rotation of said shaft in said one direction away from said neutral position to stretch said spring from one end thereof while the other ring is held against rotation by said rib, and said other ring being rotated in the opposite direction by engagement of its finger shoulder with the other tongue in response to rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction away from said neutral position to stretch said spring from its other end while said one ring is held against rotation by said rib.

2. A rotatable switch actuator comprising a hollow base, a shaft rotatably mounted in said base, a cam on one end of said shaft for actuating a switch operator, a manually operable turn button detachably coupled to the other end of said shaft by an axial stub and socket coupling, a coil spring surrounding said shaft between said coupling and said cam, a pair of rotatable rings surrounding said shaft between said cam and said coupling, each of said rings having a hook with the hooks being respectively secured to opposite ends of said spring and being spaced angularly with respect to each other about the axis of said shaft when the shaft is in a neutral position, each of said rings having a radially extending finger with the fingers spaced angularly about the shaft axis relative to the associated hooks and also relative to each other when the shaft is in a neutral position, said base having a rib extending into the space between said fingers to prevent rotation of said rings simultaneously in the same direction, said shaft and said cam having axially extending tongues respectively engaging shoulders of said fingers, one of said rings being rotated in one direction by engagement of its finger shoulder with the tongue on the shaft in response to rotation of the shaft in one direction away from said neutral position to stretch the spring from one end thereof while the other ring is held against rotation by said rib, the other ring being rotated in the opposite direction by engagement of its finger shoulder with the tongue on said cam in response to rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction away from said neutral position to stretch the spring from the other end thereof while said one ring is held against rotation by said rib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,615,851 Roth Feb. 1, 1927 1,735,897 Edgar et al Nov. 19, 1929 2,631,212 Lindsay et al. Mar. 10, 1953 2,642,502 Johnson June 16, 1953 2,656,178 Hughes Oct. 20, 1953 2,670,824 Banker Mar. 2, 1954 2,704,466 Way Mar. 22, 1955 2,748,208 Koertge May 29, 1956 2,748,210 Frank May 29, 1956 2,762,876 Glogan et al. Sept. 11, 1956 2,896,992 Check July 28, 1959

Claims

1. A ROTATABLE SWITCH ACTUATOR COMPRISING A HOLLOW BASE, A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BASE AND HAVING MEANS FOR ACTUATING A SWITCH OPERATOR, A COIL SPRING WRAPPED AROUND SAID SHAFT, AND A PAIR OF ROTATABLE RINGS SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT AND HAVING HOOKS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SPRING, SAID HOOKS BEING SPACED ANGULARLY ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER WHEN THE SHAFT IS IN A NEUTRAL POSITION, EACH RING HAVING ALSO A RADIALLY EXTENDING FINGER SPACED ANGULARLY ABOUT THE SHAFT AXIS WITH RESPECT TO ITS ASSOCIATED HOOK, SAID FINGERS ALSO BEING SPACED ANGULARLY ABOUT THE SHAFT AXIS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WHEN THE SHAFT IS IN SAID NEUTRAL POSITION, SAID BASE HAVING A RIB EXTENDING INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID FINGERS TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID RINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION, SAID SHAFT HAVING AXIALLY EXTENDING TONGUES RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING SHOULDERS OF SAID FINGERS, ONE OF SAID RINGS BEING ROTATED IN ONE DIRECTION BY ENGAGEMENT OF ITS FINGER SHOULDER WITH ONE OF SAID TONGUES IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID NEUTRAL POSITION TO STRETCH SAID SPRING FROM ONE END THEREOF WHILE THE OTHER RING IS HELD AGAINST ROTATION BY SAID RIB, AND SAID OTHER RING BEING ROTATED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BY ENGAGEMENT OF ITS FINGER SHOULDER WITH THE OTHER TONGUE IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID NEUTRAL POSITION TO STRETCH SAID SPRING FROM ITS OTHER END WHILE SAID ONE RING IS HELD AGAINST ROTATION BY SAID RIB.