US3904842A - Pressure actuated electrical switch with centrally insulated contact portion - Google Patents

Pressure actuated electrical switch with centrally insulated contact portion Download PDF

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Publication number
US3904842A
US3904842A US433620A US43362074A US3904842A US 3904842 A US3904842 A US 3904842A US 433620 A US433620 A US 433620A US 43362074 A US43362074 A US 43362074A US 3904842 A US3904842 A US 3904842A
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United States
Prior art keywords
spring element
pressure
switching device
conductive material
actuated member
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Expired - Lifetime
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US433620A
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English (en)
Inventor
Leonhard Gauer
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GAUER AG ELECTRONIC
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GAUER AG ELECTRONIC
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
    • H01H35/24—Switches operated by change of fluid pressure, by fluid pressure waves, or by change of fluid flow
    • H01H35/32—Switches operated by change of fluid pressure, by fluid pressure waves, or by change of fluid flow actuated by bellows

Definitions

  • the state-of-the-art switching devices of this type only function reliably within a limited temperature range. For instance, the tripping or switching mechanism of microswitches is markedly dependent upon temperature. Additionally, such tripping mechanism is sensitive to jarring and for certain fields of application possesses an undesired large switching hysteresis.
  • Another object of the present invention aims at the provision of a new and improved construction of switching device of the previously mentioned type which does not possess the aforementioned drawbacks and which always functions faultlessly and reliably.
  • the electrical switching device of this development is manifested by the features that it encompasses a domed or arched plate-shaped elastic spring element which is supported at its edge, the convex surface of which is provided with electrically conductive material at least at a region extending along its edge.
  • a pressure-actuated member which exerts a pressure force upon the convex face or side of the spring element.
  • the pressure-actuated member has a surface which confronts the spring element and which is provided with electrically conductive material at that location wherein it comes into contact with the conductive material of the convex surface of the spring element upon actuation of the electrical switching device.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a switching device which can be actuated by the pressure of a pressurized medium, for instance air; and
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a detail of a variant construction of a component of the switching device depicted in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 the exemplary embodi' ment of electrical switching device depicted in FIG. 1 will be understood to encompass a substantially cylindrical housing 1 which is constituted by two hollow cylindrical housing portions or housing halves la and 1b. These housing halves la and lb are formed of a suitable electrically conductive material and by means of a ring member or ring 2 formed of insulating material are insulated from one another and at the same time connected with one another. At each respective housing half 1a and lb there is secured a conductor wire 3 and 4 respectively, for instance by means of screws 5 and 6 respectively.
  • the device can be operatively connected via these conductor wires 3 and 4 with any suitable and therefore not particularly illustrated electrical switching circuit.
  • a coupling element 7 which is connected in conventional manner to a schematically illustrated container or vessel 50 which contains a pressurized fluid medium, such as compressed air or a hydraulic medium, by way of example.
  • a movable bellows or diaphragm 8 which can be displaced in its lengthwise direction is arranged internally of the housing 1., this bellows 8 being secured at its one end at its peripheral region at the inner wall of the housing portion la in any suitable fashion.
  • the opposite end of the bellows 8 is connected with a pressure plate 9 constituting a pressureactuated member. Both the pressure plate or pressure plate member 9 as well as also the bellows 8 are fabricated from electrically conductive material.
  • connection between the bellows 8 and the inner wall of the housing portion la as well as the pressure plate member 9 must be gas tight, so that the internal space or compartment 10 formed by the housing portion la, the bellows 8 and the pressure plate 9 is sealed in a gas tight manner.
  • This internal space or compartment it) is connected via the throughpassage 7a at the coupling element 7 with the internal space of the compartment or vessel 50 which contains the pressurized fluid medium.
  • a substantially diskshaped, domed or arched spring elastic element 11 in the housing portion 117 there is arranged a substantially diskshaped, domed or arched spring elastic element 11.
  • this element 11 may be formed of a domed or arched carrier plate 12 fabricated of spring elastic material, for instance spring steel.
  • An insulating layer 14 is applied to the carrier or support plate 12 at the side confronting the pressure plate member 9.
  • the insulating layer 14 is covered with a layer 13 formed of electrically conductive material.
  • This layer 13 surrounds a layer 17 formed of insulating material and which is arranged at the central portion of the element 11.
  • This layer 17 can be applied to the insulating layer 14 or can be formed by a portion thereof.
  • the layers 13 and 17 abut one another at the location designated by reference character B.
  • the insulating layer 14 can also be omitted and the layers 13 and 17 can be arranged directly at the carrier plate 12.
  • the spring-elastic element 11 is accommodated in such a manner in a recess R5 at the housing portion lb that the layer 13 always is in contact with the wall of the recess 15.
  • the carrier plate 12 is supported at its edge upon an adjustment or setting screw member 16 or equivalent structure which is threaded into the recess 15, as generally indicated by the threading 51. It is possible to adjust the dependency of the deformation of the carrier plate 12, in other words the element 11, from the pressure forces exerted upon the element 11, by adjusting the position of the adjustment screw or nut member 16.
  • FIG. 1 the pressure plate member 9 has been illustrated in bearing contact essentially only with the topmost location or apex A of the convex surface of the layer 17 formed of insulating material.
  • the current circuit formed by the conductor wire 3, the housing portion la, the bellows 8, the pressure plate 9, the layer 13, the housing portion 1b and the conductor wire 4, is thus interrupted owing to the layer 17 of insulating material which is arranged in such current circuit.
  • FIG. 2 there has been illustrated a further possible construction of the spring-elastic element and the pressure plate member portrayed in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates only the pressure plate member 109 and the spring-elastic element III which cooperates therewith, whereas the remaining components of the device which have been shown in FIG. 1 have been here omitted for purposes of simplifying the illustration of the drawing, but can be considered to be the same as those shown in FIG. I.
  • the pressure plate member or pressure plate 109 which corresponds to the pressure plate member 9 of FIG. 1, consists of electrically conductive material, however is provided at its contact surface 109a with a central portion 110 formed of insulating material.
  • the spring-elastic element 111 which corresponds to the element 11 of FIG. 1, likewise possesses a domed or arched carrier plate 112 formed of spring-elastic material, for instance spring steel.
  • This carrier plate 112 is covered at the side confronting the pressure plate 109 with a layer 113 formed of electrically conductive material.
  • the described device which can be switched-on and switched-off as a function of a pressure, can be electrically connected by means of the conductor wires or lines 3 and 4 with an electrical circuit of suitable design, which for instance can serve to carry out an indicating or control function as a function of pressure.
  • this device can also be mounted for instance at rotating components and is suitable for monitoring the pressure of vehicle tires or for indicating centrifugal forces.
  • the movement of the pressure plate members 9 and 109 can occur both pneumatically, hydraulically as well as mechanically.
  • the component 50 of FIG. 1 can be conceptually considered to constitute a mechanical actuation means.
  • the shape of the carrier plates 12 and 112 can be randomly chosen. It is conceivable to design such carrier plates to possess, for instance, a disk-, stripor starshaped configuration.
  • the springelastic carrier plate 12 of insulating material and to omit the insulating layer 14. It would also be possible to construct the layer 113 (FIG. 2) such that it possesses the desired spring-elastic properties. In such case it would be possible to omit the carrier plate 112.
  • a pressure-actuated electrical switching device comprising a domed, substantially plate-shaped elastically flexible spring element supported at its edge, said spring element having a convex surface, a pressureactuated member removably contacting said elastic spring element for exerting a pressure force against the convex surface of said spring element, said pressureactuated member having a surface arranged opposite to the convex surface of said spring element, said convex surface of said spring element being provided at its central region with electrically insulating material, said central region being surrounded by electrically conductive material arranged along the marginal region of said convex surface, said surface of the pressure'actuated member being completely formed of electrically conductive material, said conductive material of said pressure actuated member and said conductive material of said spring element movably contacting each other in accordance with movement of said pressure actuated member.
  • the spring element possesses a domed, elastically flexible carrier member, which at its convex side is covered at its central region with a layer of electrically insulating material and which is covered at its marginal region with a layer of electrically conductive material, said layer provided at said marginal region surrounding said layer provided at said central region.
  • the pressure-actuated member comprises a body of electrically conductive material, said body defining a substantially planar contact surface facing the convex surface of said spring element, said body being movable in a direction which is essentially perpendicular to the spring element.
  • a pressure-actuated electrical switching device comprising a domed, substantially plate-shaped elastically flexible spring element supported at its edge, said spring element having a convex surface, a pressureactuated member removably contacting said elastic spring element for exerting a pressure force against the convex surface of said spring element, said pressureactuated member having a surface arranged opposite to the convex surface of said spring element, said convex surface of said spring element being completely formed of electrically conductive material, said surface of said pressure-actuated member possessing a central region formed of electrically insulating material, said central region being surrounded by electrically conductive material.
  • said conductive material of said pressure actuated member and said conductive material of said spring element movably contacting each other in accordance with movement of said pressure actuated member.
  • the spring element possesses a domed elastically flexible carrier which is covered at its convex side with a layer formed of electrically conductive material.
  • the switching device as defined in claim 9, further including a support body, the spring element being supported at its edge by said support body at its side situated opposite the pressure-actuated member, said support body being displaceable in a direction towards the pressure-actuated member for adjusting the resilient properties of the spring element.
  • the pressureactuated member comprises a body of electrically conductive material.
  • said body defining a substantially planar surface facing the convex surface of said spring element, a central portion of said planar surface of said body being formed of electrically insulating material, said body being movable in a direc tion which is essentially perpendicular to the spring ele-

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
  • Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
US433620A 1973-01-26 1974-01-15 Pressure actuated electrical switch with centrally insulated contact portion Expired - Lifetime US3904842A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH116073A CH549207A (de) 1973-01-26 1973-01-26 Einrichtung zum aendern einer elektrischen groesse in abhaengigkeit von einem druck.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3904842A true US3904842A (en) 1975-09-09

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ID=4203873

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US433620A Expired - Lifetime US3904842A (en) 1973-01-26 1974-01-15 Pressure actuated electrical switch with centrally insulated contact portion

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3904842A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5237837B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH549207A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2401914A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2215691A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1445272A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT1003469B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE391412B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4083332A (en) * 1975-06-30 1978-04-11 Societe Anonyme Francaise De Ferodo Fitting of a fluid temperature switch in a wall
US4508014A (en) * 1982-06-08 1985-04-02 U.S. Truck Cranes, Inc. Remote control apparatus for a machine such as a crane
US5087800A (en) * 1989-07-18 1992-02-11 Leybold Aktiengesellschaft High frequency, large current, switch including a pressure-actuated current-carrying extensible bellows element
US5118909A (en) * 1990-10-31 1992-06-02 Kohler Co. Switch actuator
US20060225993A1 (en) * 2005-01-28 2006-10-12 Heuthorst Joseph P Non-locking switch for filter monitoring
EP2939715A1 (en) * 2014-04-29 2015-11-04 Kidde Technologies, Inc. Bellows actuated temperature compensated pressure switching apparatus and system

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4307272A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-12-22 The Echlin Manufacturing Company Pressure actuated switch
JPS5957720U (ja) * 1982-10-12 1984-04-14 昭和アルミニウノ株式会社 空気調和器
US4479392A (en) * 1983-01-03 1984-10-30 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Force transducer
JPS6260809U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1985-10-05 1987-04-15

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2458086A (en) * 1946-05-09 1949-01-04 Charles W Macmillan Engine combustion regulating device
US2697764A (en) * 1950-06-17 1954-12-21 Burgua Corp Pressure-responsive switch
US2813945A (en) * 1956-01-24 1957-11-19 Weatherhead Co Pressure sensitive switch
US3090848A (en) * 1959-11-06 1963-05-21 Paragon Products Corp Fluid pressure actuated switch
US3553402A (en) * 1968-07-23 1971-01-05 Fasco Industries Pressure switch with improved diaphragm and snap action disc structure
US3783205A (en) * 1971-10-27 1974-01-01 Texas Instruments Inc Keyboard switch matrix assembly with improved guide means for reducing transfer of bounding motion to movable conductor

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2458086A (en) * 1946-05-09 1949-01-04 Charles W Macmillan Engine combustion regulating device
US2697764A (en) * 1950-06-17 1954-12-21 Burgua Corp Pressure-responsive switch
US2813945A (en) * 1956-01-24 1957-11-19 Weatherhead Co Pressure sensitive switch
US3090848A (en) * 1959-11-06 1963-05-21 Paragon Products Corp Fluid pressure actuated switch
US3553402A (en) * 1968-07-23 1971-01-05 Fasco Industries Pressure switch with improved diaphragm and snap action disc structure
US3783205A (en) * 1971-10-27 1974-01-01 Texas Instruments Inc Keyboard switch matrix assembly with improved guide means for reducing transfer of bounding motion to movable conductor

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4083332A (en) * 1975-06-30 1978-04-11 Societe Anonyme Francaise De Ferodo Fitting of a fluid temperature switch in a wall
US4508014A (en) * 1982-06-08 1985-04-02 U.S. Truck Cranes, Inc. Remote control apparatus for a machine such as a crane
US5087800A (en) * 1989-07-18 1992-02-11 Leybold Aktiengesellschaft High frequency, large current, switch including a pressure-actuated current-carrying extensible bellows element
US5118909A (en) * 1990-10-31 1992-06-02 Kohler Co. Switch actuator
US20060225993A1 (en) * 2005-01-28 2006-10-12 Heuthorst Joseph P Non-locking switch for filter monitoring
US7414207B2 (en) * 2005-01-28 2008-08-19 Engineered Products Company Non-locking switch for filter monitoring
US7777143B2 (en) 2005-01-28 2010-08-17 Engineered Products Company Non-locking switch for filter monitoring
EP2939715A1 (en) * 2014-04-29 2015-11-04 Kidde Technologies, Inc. Bellows actuated temperature compensated pressure switching apparatus and system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE391412B (sv) 1977-02-14
CH549207A (de) 1974-09-30
GB1445272A (en) 1976-08-11
IT1003469B (it) 1976-06-10
DE2401914A1 (de) 1974-08-08
FR2215691A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-08-23
JPS5237837B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-09-26
JPS49109871A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-10-18

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