US3694589A - Electrical commutating switches with ball bridging contacts - Google Patents

Electrical commutating switches with ball bridging contacts Download PDF

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Publication number
US3694589A
US3694589A US83001A US3694589DA US3694589A US 3694589 A US3694589 A US 3694589A US 83001 A US83001 A US 83001A US 3694589D A US3694589D A US 3694589DA US 3694589 A US3694589 A US 3694589A
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United States
Prior art keywords
rotor
stator
stators
holes
recesses
Prior art date
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Expired - Lifetime
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US83001A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gerard Roland L Toutain
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
COMPOBAT A CORP OF FRANCE
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Gerard Roland L Toutain
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Publication of US3694589A publication Critical patent/US3694589A/en
Assigned to COMPOBAT, A CORP. OF FRANCE reassignment COMPOBAT, A CORP. OF FRANCE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: SOCIETE D'ETUDES ET DE REALISATIONS EN PHYSIQUE INDUSTRIELLE ET AN AUTOMATIQUE, A CORP. OF FRANCE
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
    • H01H19/54—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions
    • H01H19/56—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch
    • H01H19/58—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch having only axial contact pressure, e.g. disc switch, wafer switch
    • H01H19/585—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch having only axial contact pressure, e.g. disc switch, wafer switch provided with printed circuit contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/16—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting by rolling; by wrapping; Roller or ball contacts

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT rotary commutation devices and particularly though not exclusively to rotary electrical commutators.
  • a commutating switch device comprises a rotor capable of turning between two stators which are continuously biased resiliently towards one another.
  • the rotor has a plurality of transverse holes serving to hold locating balls, and the stators each have on their face directed toward the rotor, a plurality of locating holes for the balls, so that the passage from one commutation location in which the balls cooperate with holes of the stators to an intermediate position in which the balls lie against the faces of the stators gives rise to an increased relative spacing of the two stators.
  • Sensitivity is thus improved while decreasing the moment required for adjusting the control switch.
  • a rotor is rotatable with respect to a fixed assembly and locking means are provided for holding the rotor in a certain number of predetermined angular positions which constitute commutation positions.
  • this locking is provided by locating balls which come into engagement in notches or other location means in various commutation positions.
  • the rotor serves to establish, corresponding to various commutation positions, an electricalconnection through theintermediary of sliding contacts, frequently comprising flat fingers cooperating with resilient holders.
  • the resisting moment is the sum of the moment caused by the locking ball action and of the frictional moment due to the contact members.
  • the moment caused by the locking ball action should be in excess of the. moment due to friction, so that the friction of the contact members does not succeed in masking variations in the control moment which are characterized by the correct functioning of the lock ball system. Because of this, it has become the practice to use locking ball devices giving rise to relatively high locating moments.
  • the invention proposes a novel commutating switch structure particularly of an electrical commutator with a low locking ball moment.
  • a rotary commutation device comprising a first stator member having a plurality of recesses arranged in a circular array, a second stator member having a plurality of recesses arranged in a circular array, a rotor mounted between the first and second stators and having a plurality of holes opposed to the recesses of the first and second stators, means biasing the stators towards one another, and at least one locating ball in each saidhole of the rotor, movement of the rotor between commutating locations when the locating balls are wholly outside the recesses serving to overcome the biasing means and thus force the stators apart with respect to the rotor.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the main mechanical parts of an electrical commutating switch in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2a is a fragmentary developed section illustrating a pair of balls in a locked position
  • FIG. 2b is a fragmentary developed section showing a pair of balls in a non-locked position
  • FIGS. 30 and 3b shows stators forming part of the commutating switch on which the contact parts are provided by a process similar to that used for the manufacture of printed circuits, FIG. 30 showing the upper stator and FIG. 3b the lower stator, and
  • FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the preferred form of commutating switch in accordance with the present invention, with the balls being shown in a locked position;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showin the balls in a non-locked position.
  • the commutating switch comprises two stators 1 and 2. and a rotor 5.
  • the lower stator l is rectangular and supports the remainder of the assembly. It has a circular series of holes 11 the center of which circle is also the center of symmetry of the stator.
  • the stator 1 also comprises at each of its comers four stepped pegs 12 which serve to mount the upper stator 2 through the intermediary of resilient links 3.
  • the upper stator 2 can alternatively be mounted on the lower stator by any other means which permit small translational displacements in the direction of the arrow 4.
  • the stator 2 is circular and has a circular aperture 13 of the same center. It has a series of holes 14 disposed on a circle of which the center is the center of the stator and the radius is the same as that of the circle on which the holes 11 are disposed.
  • the rotor 5 lies between'the stators '1 and 2. It has three holes 15, of larger diameter than those, 1 l, 14, of the stators, but lyingon a circle of the same diameter.
  • the rotor 5 also has a rectangular opening 16 and two opposed holes 8 for locating contact balls.
  • a pin 7 having a projection 7a passes through the opening or an aperture 13 and engages in the opening 16 which enables the rotor to be driven.
  • a pair of ratchetballs 6 is located in each hole 15.
  • the number of holes 11 and 13 is for example equal to twelve if the commutating switch comprises locking positions which are spaced by 30".
  • a first set of contact areas 11 is disposed on the stator l and a second set of contact areas 18 on the stator 2.
  • the contact areas 17 and 18 are electrically connected by contact balls disposed in respective holes 8 of the rotor.
  • the sets of contacts are preferably provided when formingthe stators l and 2 by the process used for manufacture of printed circuits.
  • the conductivev zones have shapes necessary to ensure the continuity of the variouscircuits, commutated by predetermined displacement of the ratchet balls.
  • FIGS. 3a and 3b provide four locations on three tracks.
  • the stators l and 2 are manufactured of an insulating material of high mechanical strength.
  • the tracks of the stator 2 are preferably electrically connected by the resilient links 3 which also effect guidance of the stator and generate the necessary contact pressure.
  • the contact balls have a diameter lying between the values of the distance separating the stators in the two extreme positions shown respectively in FIGS. 2a and 2b. It follows that they are supported in a locked position while they do not rub on the tracks during the displacement from one commutating location to the next. In the locked position, their diameter is so determined that the desired contacts are effected.
  • the rotor is free to make, in the locked position, small angular displacements about the mean locating positions giving rise to friction with the contact balls on the areas of very small'size. This has the effect of cleanduring each commutation action.
  • the rotor 5 is made of an insulating material, having, preferably, a low friction coefficient.
  • the contact areas of the stator 1 and the tracks of the stator 2 can be connected electrically by riveted studs of customary form employed for mounting soldered capsules in printed circuits.
  • the commutator can thus be directly incorporated in a printed circuit board in the same manner as other electronic components carried thereby.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 a preferred form of commutating switch in accordance with the present invention. Parts which are similar to those previously described and illustrated are shown by. the same reference characters.
  • the balls 6 are in a locked position, similar to FIG. 2a, and in FIGS, the
  • the switch shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises an outer housing molding and a bottom closing plate 22 whichtogether enclose the switch parts.
  • the molding 20 and plate22 can'be secured by any suitable means, for example, assembling rivets.
  • a control spindle 24 is mounted in an opening 26 therefor formed in the molding 20,- with the spindle having connected thereto the pin 7 for driving the rotor.
  • stator 2 is biased toward the lower stator l, with spring means 28 being the preferred biasing means.
  • the springs 28 are telescoped around pins 30 which extend upwardly from the links 3, which links in turn bear on the upper surface of the stator 2.
  • the structure is such that the electrical contacts do not rub against one another 4 when the commutator esses fro one COIUHJJBIIOII position to another, a ough t ey are su iclently biased towards one other for any commutation location. Because of this, the electrical contacts are not liable to wear due to rubbing and an operator can sense clearly the passage between various commutation positions.
  • the structure in accordance with the invention is applicable particularly well to the construction of electrical commutating switches of small dimensions.
  • a rotary commutation device comprising a. a first stator member having a plurality of recesses arranged in a circular array,
  • a second stator member having a plurality of recesses arranged in a circular array in alignment with the recesses of said first stator member
  • stator members c. means for mounting said stator members so as to resiliently bias the same toward each other while at the same time permitting axial movement of one of said stator member relative to the other,
  • a rotor mounted between the first and second stator members and having a first plurality of holes opposed to the recesses of the first and second stator members and which sequentially communicate with said recesses in said stator members when said rotor is rotated,
  • locating ball means positioned in said holes in said rotor, said locating ball means being dimensionally in excess of the rotor thickness, whereby movement of said rotor positions said locating ball means outside the recesses in said members thereby serving to overcome the biasing means and thus force the stator members axially apart from each other,
  • said rotor being provided with a second plurality of holes which are sequentially in alignment with said contact areas on the faces of the stator members when said rotor is rotated,
  • conductive ball means positioned in said second plurality of holes in said rotor, said conductive ball means having a diameter larger than the rotor thickness but smaller than the axial distance between the opposed contact areas on the faces of the stator members when the latter are resiliently biased toward their most adjacent position, whereby said conductive ball means are only operative to connect the contact areas on the faces of said stator members when the latter are in their most adjacent position with the locating ball means inside the recesses in said stator members.
US83001A 1970-04-09 1970-10-22 Electrical commutating switches with ball bridging contacts Expired - Lifetime US3694589A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19702016922 DE2016922A1 (de) 1970-04-09 1970-04-09 Vorrichtung zum Auffangen des an den Umkehrenden eines Forderbandes anfallenden Rieselgutes
US8300170A 1970-10-22 1970-10-22
GB5009370 1970-10-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3694589A true US3694589A (en) 1972-09-26

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US83001A Expired - Lifetime US3694589A (en) 1970-04-09 1970-10-22 Electrical commutating switches with ball bridging contacts

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US3694589A (de)
DE (1) DE2016922A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1302240A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3794784A (en) * 1973-05-07 1974-02-26 Atlantic Richfield Co Rotary wafer switch having rotor mounted, spiral arranged axial bridging contacts
US4237146A (en) * 1977-01-28 1980-12-02 Rich Products Corporation Freezer soft intermediate-moisture food dressing
US4387109A (en) * 1980-03-14 1983-06-07 Rich Products Corporation Intermediate-moisture frozen oil-in-water emulsion foods

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2140884A (en) * 1983-02-22 1984-12-05 Compair Constr Mining Ltd Locating and holding means e.g. for the latch plate for the steel of a percussive roadbreaker

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1254331A (en) * 1913-04-16 1918-01-22 Gurney Electric Elevator Company Elevator signal system.
US1714680A (en) * 1924-03-26 1929-05-28 Marcus M Levinson Switch
US1832869A (en) * 1930-03-22 1931-11-24 Baritone Radio Corp Electric switch
US3263033A (en) * 1965-01-04 1966-07-26 Arthur C Metzger Miniature rotary multipolar selector switch with rotor resilient conductive brush and ball contact structure
US3284584A (en) * 1965-08-30 1966-11-08 Zenith Radio Corp Adjustable switching apparatus comprising resilient means biasing movable plate structure
US3534194A (en) * 1968-03-06 1970-10-13 Jack B Speller Low noise electrical contact apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1254331A (en) * 1913-04-16 1918-01-22 Gurney Electric Elevator Company Elevator signal system.
US1714680A (en) * 1924-03-26 1929-05-28 Marcus M Levinson Switch
US1832869A (en) * 1930-03-22 1931-11-24 Baritone Radio Corp Electric switch
US3263033A (en) * 1965-01-04 1966-07-26 Arthur C Metzger Miniature rotary multipolar selector switch with rotor resilient conductive brush and ball contact structure
US3284584A (en) * 1965-08-30 1966-11-08 Zenith Radio Corp Adjustable switching apparatus comprising resilient means biasing movable plate structure
US3534194A (en) * 1968-03-06 1970-10-13 Jack B Speller Low noise electrical contact apparatus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3794784A (en) * 1973-05-07 1974-02-26 Atlantic Richfield Co Rotary wafer switch having rotor mounted, spiral arranged axial bridging contacts
US4237146A (en) * 1977-01-28 1980-12-02 Rich Products Corporation Freezer soft intermediate-moisture food dressing
US4387109A (en) * 1980-03-14 1983-06-07 Rich Products Corporation Intermediate-moisture frozen oil-in-water emulsion foods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2016922A1 (de) 1971-10-21
GB1302240A (de) 1973-01-04

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: COMPOBAT, 19, SQUARE JEAN LURCAT, B.P. 23, 91390 M

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:SOCIETE D ETUDES ET DE REALISATIONS EN PHYSIQUE INDUSTRIELLE ET AN AUTOMATIQUE, A CORP. OF FRANCE;REEL/FRAME:003886/0404

Effective date: 19810515