US3284585A

US3284585A - Set-reset rotary switch

Info

Publication number: US3284585A
Application number: US501993A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard F Hall
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1965-10-22
Filing date: 1965-10-22
Publication date: 1966-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-08

Description

Nov. 8, 1966 H. F. HALL 3,284,585

SET-RESET ROTARY SWITCH Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 cIII] :1 q F I. Z

INVENTOR. Howard F /-/0// His Af/arney Nov. 8, 1966 H. F. HALL Filed Oct. 22, 1965 SET-RESET ROTARY SWITCH 2 SheetsSheet i? ill! INVENTOR.

Howard E Hall fi/Z' His Affomey United States Patent 3,284,585 SET-RESET ROTARY SWITCH Howard F. Hall, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,993 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-11) This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to a rotary switch having a rotational and axial movement capability.

This invention includes certain structural features already described in copending application Serial No. 376,- 147, now Patent No. 3,244,823, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. These features are, most notably, the radial and axial locators hereinafter described. It is desirable in the testing of a great number of related electrical devices to have a single switch that is easily adapted for simultaneous and sequential testing of a plurality of electric circuits. A single switch having the above described capability not only is easily adaptable for testing of a great number of circuits in a given sequence but is also adaptable for change-over from a testing of one set of circuits by plug-type connectors accessible to the exterior of the switch.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electric switch having an actuator which is rotatable and axially movable to a plurality of operative positions wherein desired circuits can be selectively simultaneously or sequentially checked.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved electric switch which is very compact in size and which can be disconnected from a given sequence of circuit checks and reconnected to a different sequence very easily.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved electric switch in which the actuator means engages no conductive portions of the switch, thereby eifectively insulating the switch operative area from the exterior portion of the switch housing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved electric switch comprising a plurality of programmable decks so situated relative to bridging elements that a plurality of circuit checks in a set sequence can be carried out with certain circuits previously engaged remaining engaged during subsequent portions of the circuit checks.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a switch capable of carrying out the aforementioned objects in which a sliding contact is had between a fixed and movable contact during every switching function, thereby minimizing oxidation buildup on the conductive surfaces.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the subject device.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the subject device shown illustrated in a typically operative environment.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a switch housing encloses the operative portions of the subject switch and is mounted to a panel 12 so as to be suspended therefrom. Actuator 14 is carried by shaft 16 which is slidable in housing 10. Actuator 14 is also adapted for rotation with shaft 16 during certain operative movements of the subject switch ice and it is understood that the apparatus herein referred to generally as first locating means 18 and second locating means 20 is more completely described in copending application Serial No. 376,147.

Decks 22 are composed of any well-known insulated material and form a partition in housing 10. Decks 22 are in contiguous relationship to one another and, when operatively positioned, carry plug terminals 24 accessible to the exterior housing 10 and conductively engage fixed contact means 26 through leads 28. The relationship of terminals 24 to fixed contact means 26 is better seen in FIGURE 2. Referring to FIGURE 1, a conductive path is established from terminals 24 through lead 28 to spring 30 which serves to bias conductive ball 32 toward movable contact means 34. Movable contact means 34 generally comprises a plug 36 composed of any well-known insulating material. Plug 36 has a conductive surface portion 38 arranged to be slidable in and out of bridging relationship to adjacent conductive balls 32. Plugs 36 are slidable in apertures 4% formed in decks 22.

Plates

42 and 44 are carried by shaft 16 so as to be rotatable therewith and are composed of any well-known insulating material. Extensions 46 extend above the surface of plates 42 in the direction of decks 22 along the longitudinal axis of shaft 16. Extensions 46 are also disposed in radial alingment with the sliding plane of plugs 36 in apertures 40.

In operation, external circuits which are to be energized are attached to adjacent terminals 24, such as seen in FIGURE 1. In this manner, conductive surface 38 of movable contact means 34 is capable of bridging a conductive path between the terminals so connected. EX- tensions 46 from

plates

42 and 44 are so positioned that only certain movable conductive means 34 are engaged when axial movement is induced in shaft 16. Therefore, it is possible to move movable contact means 34 into bridging relationship with terminals 24 in a certain preselected pattern. Once a certain pattern has been established, a releasing of the axial pressure in shaft 16 results in springs 48 driving shaft 16 to a centered position which results in center groove 50 in shaft 16 being engaged by axial locating means 18. Therefore, the movable conductive means 34 energized during an axial movement of shaft 16 toward the right, as viewed in FIGURE 1 can result in an establishing of a pattern of conducting circuits with a future selection of another pattern of conducting circuits made while the ones previously energized remain energized. Indicia, not shown, on the face of panel 12 marked by the end of actuator 14 can maintain a visual record of which pattern of circuits has been energized and which circuits remain to be selected. As previously indicated, the centering means 18 and the locating means 20 are more clearly described in copending application Serial No. 376,147, resulting in accurate rotary and axial positioning of shaft 16 to allow the aforementioned selection of conductive circuit patterns.

Movement of shaft 16 to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 1, results in plates 44 and extensions 46 carried thereby moving into movable contact means 34 that were positioned in a conductive manner with respect to selected terminals 24 being pushed in aperture 40 to a position wherein conductive surface 38 no longer bridges adjacent terminals 24. Consequently, circuit patterns previously established may be selectively broken during other phases of operation of the subject switch. It should be noted that plug 36 and conductive surface 38 are frictionally held in aperture 40 by a force on the exterior thereof provided by spring 30 and conductive balls 32. Therefore, any position assumed by the movable contact means 34 is maintained absent an external force applied by selected extensions 46.

Another embodiment of the subject device is illustrated in FIGURE 3 and the same reference numerals apply for similar parts except that the reference numerals are prefixed by numeral 2. For example, panel 12 in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 is referred to as panel 212 in the embodiment of FIGURE 3.

The embodiment of FIGURE 3 contains four decks 222 having three terminals 224 extending to the exterior of the switch housing 210. Plugs 236 are slightly more elongated than the plugs 36 of FIGURE 1 to accommodate the added width of the contiguous panels or decks 222. Conductive surface 238 formed on plugs 236 are slightly smaller in length, thereby enabling a positioning of a conductive surface 238 to the extreme positioned conductive balls 232 without conductively engaging either one while being maintained in a powered condition through lead 252 and battery 254. Therefore, a multiple pole, double throw switch capability is had by the subject switch. It is understood that the central terminal 224a in the embodiment of FIGURE 3 is always powered from battery 254 and adjacent terminals 224 positioned on either side of the middle terminal can be alternately energized by axial movement of plug 236. Therefore,

operative device

256 or 258 can be alternately energized but cannot be simultaneously energized.

The operation of the embodiment of FIGURE 3 is exactly the same as the embodiment of FIGURE 1 except that an extra switching capability is had by reversely moving a plug 236 after having been moved in a first direction. It is also possible to move plug 236 only to a centered position, resulting in the breaking of circuit patterns previously established. As in the embodiment of FIG- URE l, shaft 216 can be axially moved so that certain selected plugs 236 are conductively positioned with respect to selected terminals 224 and this conductive relationship left in an energized condition while the switch is moved to a centered position, thereafter enabling the selection of another pattern of circuits to be energized.

A typical cycle of operation would involve a switch operators desire to select a certain pattern of operative devices, such as device 258. It should be understood that the radial positioning of the extensions 246 can be altered 'in a given installation to bring about any number of simultaneous circuit energizations. In the description given, it will be assumed that onlytwo such extensions are being utilized allowing the simultaneous energization of two operative devices 258 through a common battery 254. Therefore, axial movement of shaft 216 carries plates 242 and 244 along with extensions 246 linearly aligned with selected plugs 236. Plugs 236 so selected and conductive surface 238 carried thereon are moved in apertures 240 until a bridging relationship is established between two of the center powered terminals 224a and a selected adjacent end terminal 224. A path for current flow is then provided from battery 254 through the terminal 224a, spring 230, conductive ball 232, conductive surface 238 and back through the ball spring and terminal conductively associated with operative device 258.

Axial movement of shaft 216 back to a centered position results in the plugs 236 previously positioned in a conductive relationship still established allowing actuator 214 to be rotated to another position wherein other operative devices 258 radially positioned in decks 222 can be selectively energized.

Axial movement of shaft 216 in an opposite direction from a centered location results in movement of any selected plugs 236 in an opposite direction to that previously described and causes conductive surface 238 to continue conductive engagement with the center power terminal 224a by breaking engagement with the terminal 224 associated with the operative device 258 establishing a new bridging relationship between the center power terminal 224a and an oppositely positioned terminal 224 associated with an operative device 256. The same selection potential by rotational movement of actuator 214 is present allowing sequential energization of selected groups of operative devices.

The utility of the subject invention is apparent in an environment wherein a plurality of circuits are simultaneously energized with other pluralities of circuits being sequentially energized. This is a common requirement in a testing of electrical components, such as electronic gear requiring more than one circuit to be energized for test ing purposes before certain other circuits are energized to establish a selected test sequence. The subject switch offers this desired capability in an economical manner and, in addition, allows a test sequence previously selected to be later changed by merely changing the electrical connections to terminals positioned at the exterior of the switch housing. The subject device also allows the use of the same electrical switch in a variety of environments because of the programmable nature of the externally disposed terminals allowing frequent circuit changes without disturbing certain circuit patterns already established and without moving the switch from its mounted position. The subject switch also accommodates its use in non-controlled environments by use of the sliding of the conductive surface 238 across selected fixed contacts. This results in a wiping action facilitating the removal of oxide build-up common to non-controlled environments.

The versatility of the subject switch is further increased by the extensions 246 which can be of any number corresponding to the number of circuits it is desirable to simultaneously energize. In a given installation, anywhere from one to sixteen circuits can be simultaneously energized in direction of axial movement, it being understood that the limitation sixteen is given by way of example of FIGURE 2, it being understood that any number of fixed contacts could be provided allowing a multiple switching capability in excess of sixteen.

While the embodiments of the present invention, as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising: a switch housing; actuator means being rotatable and axially slidable in said switch housing into a plurality of operative positions; a plurality of relatively fixed contact means carried by said switch housing in circular fashion with respect to said actuator means; and movable contact means, each being slidable in said fixed contact means in response to axial movement of said actuator means to selectively energize several of a plurality of electrical circuits.

2. An electric switch according to claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes first means for establishing a rotary location and second means for establishing an axial location, said actuator means being normally biased to acentered axial position.

3. An electric switch according to claim 1 wherein said relatively fixed contact means includes spring biased ball elements constantly urged towards said movable contact means.

4. An electric switch comprising: a switch housing; actuator means pivotally supported by said switch housing and axially slidable therein to a plurality of axial positions on either side of a centered position; locating means carried by said actuator means and said switch body for radially positioning said actuator means in a selected rotational position; a plurality of fixed contact means including linearly movable contacts carried by said switch body in a circular manner relative to said actuator means; and movable contact means, each slidable in said fixed contact means including conductive portions slidably engageable with the linearly movable contacts of said fixed contact means in response to axialmovement of said actuator means.

5. An electric switch according to claim 4 wherein said fixed contact means are spring loaded contacts radially positioned in a substantially flat housing partition.

6. An electric switch according to claim 4 wherein 5 said movable contact means are slidable along the longitudinal axis of said actuator means and include cylindrical shaped non-conductive members having conductive portions thereon arranged to selectively bridge juxtaposed fixed contact means in response to actuator means movement.

7. An electric switch comprising: a switch housing; actuator means including axial and radial positioning means, said actuator means rotata'bly carried by said housing and axially movable therein; biasing means carried by said actuator means and acting between portions of said switch housing and opposed surfaces of said actuator means to center said actuator means after axial movement thereof; a plurality of fixed contact means carried by a portion of said switch housing and radially positioned around the longitudinal axis of said actuator means; and conductive elements, each slidably positioned in said fixed contact means and arranged to selectively conductively engage said fixed contact means bridging a plurality of said fixed contact means corresponding to a pattern established by the radial positioning of said actuator means prior to axial movement thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,047,683 7/1962 Shlesinger 2004 X 3,121,143 2/1964 Landry et al 20011 3,150,240 9/1964 Voss 2008 3,193,630 7/1965 Shlesinger 2008 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

I R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN ELECTRIC SWITCH COMPRISING: A SWITCH HOUSING; ACTUATOR MEANS BEING ROTATABLE AND AXIALLY SLIDABLE IN SAID SWITCH HOUSING INTO A PLURALITY OF OPERATIVE POSITIONS; A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY FIXED CONTACT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SWITCH HOUSING IN CIRCULAR FASHION WITH RESPECT TO SAID ACTUATOR MEANS; AND MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS, EACH BEING SLIDABLE IN SAID FIXED MEANS IN RESPONSE TO AXIAL