US3928740A - Rotary switch - Google Patents

Rotary switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3928740A
US3928740A US444365A US44436574A US3928740A US 3928740 A US3928740 A US 3928740A US 444365 A US444365 A US 444365A US 44436574 A US44436574 A US 44436574A US 3928740 A US3928740 A US 3928740A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
housing
cam disc
grooves
rotation
axis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US444365A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gottfried Alsch
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication of US3928740A publication Critical patent/US3928740A/en
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Classifications

    • 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
    • H01H19/02—Details
    • H01H19/10—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H19/11—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon with indexing means

Definitions

  • a rotary switch Comprises a housing defining a first Set 1 I of guide grooves wherein a set of spring-biased plungg 1 ers are glidably mounted for operating a set of contact n e l e l t u
  • the plungers are biased into 17 18 contact with the cam disc and rotation of the cam disc 56 R f ed causes movement of selected ones of the contact brid- 1 e erences It ges perpendicularly to the axis of rotation.
  • a star UNITED STATES PATENTS wheel is mounted in the housing coaxially with the 2,030,890 2/1936 Oberhofiken 200/153 LB cam isc for rotation therewith and a set of spring- 2,245,369 6/1941 Smith 200/ 153 LB biased detent elements is glidably mounted in a sec- 2398307 4/ 1946 200/ 153 L3 X ond set of guide grooves defined in the housing for 00- 2,684,412 7/1954 Bauer 200/153 LB x Operation with the Star WheeL 2,786,105 3/1957 Pawley et al 200/153 LB X 2,823,285 2/1958 Stone 200/153 LB 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 3,928,740
  • the present invention relates to improvements in rotary switches.
  • Conventional rotary switches comprise a housing defining a set of guide grooves and a set of springbiased plungers glidably mounted in the set of guide grooves.
  • the plungers are operably associated with respective ones of a set of contactbridges mounted in the housing and a cam disc is mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis.
  • the plungers being biased into contact with the cam disc, rotation thereof causes movement of selected ones of the contact bridges perpendicularly to the axis of rotation in response to the configuration of the camming surface of the cam disc.
  • a rotary switch of this type requires detent means arranged to hold the cam disc in predetermined rest positions wherein no movement of the plungers is caused.
  • this detent means is constituted by a separate structural part with its own housing connected to the switch housing proper by bolts or a bayonet coupling. This increases not only thecost of construction but also the axial length of the switch unit.
  • a rotary switch which comprises a housing defining a first set of guide grooves and a second set of guide grooves.
  • a set of contact bridges is mounted in the housing and a set of spring-biased plungers is mounted glidably in the first set of guide grooves and is operably associated with respective ones of the contact bridges to move them in response to the movement of the associated plungers.
  • a cam disc is mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis, the plungers being biased into contact with the cam disc and rotation of the cam disc causing movement of selected ones of the contact bridges perpendicularly to the axis of rotation in response to the configuration of the camming surface of the cam disc.
  • a star wheel is mounted in the housing coaxially with the cam disc and coupled thereto for rotation therewith and a set of spring-biased detent elements is mounted in the second set of guide grooves for cooperation with the star wheel.
  • a rotary switch of this structure is particularly useful when the set of contact bridges consists of two diametrically opposed contact bridges, in which case the second set of guide grooves also consists of two diametrically opposed guide grooves, and the axes of the plungers and the two opposed guide grooves for the detent elements are angularly spaced from each other by 90.
  • the detent elements define bores housing springs for biasing the detent elements, and mating guide or retaining means hold the preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a top view of the switch mechanism, showing the interior of the switch housing, with the cover removed;
  • FIG. 2 is a bottom view showingthe detent mechanism
  • FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along line IIIIII of FIG. 2.
  • the illustrated rotary switch comprises housing part 1 and cam disc 2 mounted centrally therein for rotation about an axis, the axis of rotation being defined by a shaft (not shown) to which the cam disc is keyed by teeth 3.
  • the cam disc of the switch may also be coupled to a like or similar rotary switch mounted axially adjacent thereto.
  • Housing 1 defines a first set of two radially extending, diametrically opposed guide grooves 4 wherein plungers 5 are glidably mounted, each plunger being operably associated with a respective one of contact bridges 6.
  • the plungers carry the contact bridges for movement therewith.
  • Compression springs 7 bias the plungers inwardly into contact with cam disc 2 and rotation of the cam disc causes movement of a selected one of the contact bridges perpendicularly to the axis of rotation in response to the configuration of the camming surface of the cam disc, as clearly shown in FIG. 1.
  • Switch contacts 8 are mounted in grooves in the switch housing for cooperation with the contact bridges so that movement of the selected contact bridge closes a selected switch contact.
  • the contact terminals are shown at 10. All of this structure is substantially conventional.
  • the housing defines a second set of guide grooves 11 and 12, the diametrically opposed, radially extending guide grooves 11 and 12 being angularly spaced from the axes of plungers 5 to Detent elements 13 are glidably mounted in grooves 11 and 12 for cooperation with star wheel 14 (see FIG. 2).
  • the star wheel is mounted in the housing coaxially with cam disc 2 and axially adjacent thereto, the cam disc and star wheel being coupled together for common rotation and forming a single structural unit. If desired, the cam disc and star wheel may be integral with each other.
  • each detent element 13 is a slide having a pair of lateral guide grooves 15 cooperating with a mating pair of guide rails 16 in the side walls of guide grooves l1, 12 so as to hold the detent elements in their guide grooves against movement outwardly of their guide grooves in the direction of the axis of rotation (see arrow A in FIG. 3).
  • the detent elements define cylindrical bores 17 housing springs 18 for biasing the detent elements against the star wheel. The ends of compression springs 18 abut against the bottoms of the guide grooves ll, 12 and bores 17, respectively, as best shown in FIG. 2.
  • spring-biased detent elements 13 are first inserted into their guide grooves 11, 12 through the center recess 21 of housing part 1, whereupon the cam disc-star wheel unit is mounted in 3 the center recess. Plungers 5 may now be mounted in their guide grooves 4 to complete the assembly.
  • a rotary switch of the described structure is not only compact by providing a single structural unit of cam disc and detent mechanism while assuring independent operation of the cam disc and the detent mechanism but, at the same time, meets all operational requirements for such switches. Furthermore, the axial length of the switch is reduced, thus saving material and space.
  • a rotary switch having an axis of rotation and comprising:
  • a housing defining a plurality of first radial guide grooves and a second radial guide groove axially adjacent said first guide grooves and angularly spaced from each of said first grooves;
  • a cam disc mounted in said housing for rotation about said axis and having a cam face opposite said first grooves
  • first yieldably resilient means biasing each plunger toward engagement with cam face
  • second yieldably resilient means biasing said detent element toward engagement with said star wheel
  • a plurality of contact bridges mounted in said housing and operatively connected to respective ones of said plungers for operation when the connected plungers are moved during rotation of said cam disc against the biasing of said first yieldably resilient means.

Landscapes

  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
US444365A 1973-02-23 1974-02-21 Rotary switch Expired - Lifetime US3928740A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT162773A AT328026B (de) 1973-02-23 1973-02-23 Drehschalter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3928740A true US3928740A (en) 1975-12-23

Family

ID=3517504

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US444365A Expired - Lifetime US3928740A (en) 1973-02-23 1974-02-21 Rotary switch

Country Status (15)

Country Link
US (1) US3928740A (xx)
JP (1) JPS49135172A (xx)
AT (1) AT328026B (xx)
BE (1) BE811351A (xx)
CA (1) CA1000329A (xx)
CH (1) CH580331A5 (xx)
DE (1) DE2408053A1 (xx)
DK (1) DK142826B (xx)
FI (1) FI59180C (xx)
FR (1) FR2219512B1 (xx)
GB (1) GB1454566A (xx)
IT (1) IT1009171B (xx)
NL (1) NL7402211A (xx)
SE (1) SE395790B (xx)
ZA (1) ZA741063B (xx)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5075517A (en) * 1990-01-19 1991-12-24 Bremas S.P.A. Cam operated electrical changeover switch or circuit breaker tappet-type contact structure
US5506377A (en) * 1993-10-12 1996-04-09 Emerson Electric Co. Limit switch carrier assembly
US6028280A (en) * 1997-03-22 2000-02-22 Aeg Sensorsysteme Gmbh Actuator for generating switching signals
US6278619B1 (en) * 1998-05-14 2001-08-21 Socomec S.A. Circuit breaker for low voltage alternating electric installation
CN100361245C (zh) * 2005-12-19 2008-01-09 上海伊莱克斯实业有限公司 快速通断的自洁式凸轮开关
CN110047686A (zh) * 2019-05-14 2019-07-23 广东升威电子制品有限公司 一种防水的按压式旋钮开关
GB2608869A (en) * 2021-07-12 2023-01-18 Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd Switch for disconnecting an electrical circuit

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4205907A1 (de) * 1992-02-26 1993-09-02 Trw Messmer Rastvorrichtung fuer elektromechanische schaltelemente, insbesondere fuer elektrische schalter

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2030890A (en) * 1933-04-01 1936-02-18 Ingersoll Milling Machine Co Control mechanism for machine tools and the like
US2245369A (en) * 1939-10-19 1941-06-10 Vapor Car Heating Co Inc Cam switch
US2398007A (en) * 1944-06-19 1946-04-09 Cutler Hammer Inc Electric circuit controller
US2684412A (en) * 1951-01-02 1954-07-20 Naimer Hubert Cam-controlled switch
US2786105A (en) * 1952-07-16 1957-03-19 Myron G Pawley Telemetering in-flight calibrator
US2823285A (en) * 1954-06-07 1958-02-11 Honeywell Regulator Co Control apparatus
US2892047A (en) * 1956-02-07 1959-06-23 Mallory & Co Inc P R Dryer switch
US3566051A (en) * 1969-03-10 1971-02-23 Gulf & Western Industries Drum-type programmer with improved elongated pinion gear and cylindrical drum structure

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1115515A (fr) * 1954-12-14 1956-04-25 App Et D Expl Des Etablissemen Dispositif mécanique de positionnement angulaire
FR1179488A (fr) * 1957-06-25 1959-05-25 Labinal Ets Perfectionnements apportés aux commutateurs rotatifs, notamment à plusieurs éléments étagés
BE570831A (xx) * 1957-09-16

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2030890A (en) * 1933-04-01 1936-02-18 Ingersoll Milling Machine Co Control mechanism for machine tools and the like
US2245369A (en) * 1939-10-19 1941-06-10 Vapor Car Heating Co Inc Cam switch
US2398007A (en) * 1944-06-19 1946-04-09 Cutler Hammer Inc Electric circuit controller
US2684412A (en) * 1951-01-02 1954-07-20 Naimer Hubert Cam-controlled switch
US2786105A (en) * 1952-07-16 1957-03-19 Myron G Pawley Telemetering in-flight calibrator
US2823285A (en) * 1954-06-07 1958-02-11 Honeywell Regulator Co Control apparatus
US2892047A (en) * 1956-02-07 1959-06-23 Mallory & Co Inc P R Dryer switch
US3566051A (en) * 1969-03-10 1971-02-23 Gulf & Western Industries Drum-type programmer with improved elongated pinion gear and cylindrical drum structure

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5075517A (en) * 1990-01-19 1991-12-24 Bremas S.P.A. Cam operated electrical changeover switch or circuit breaker tappet-type contact structure
US5506377A (en) * 1993-10-12 1996-04-09 Emerson Electric Co. Limit switch carrier assembly
US6028280A (en) * 1997-03-22 2000-02-22 Aeg Sensorsysteme Gmbh Actuator for generating switching signals
US6278619B1 (en) * 1998-05-14 2001-08-21 Socomec S.A. Circuit breaker for low voltage alternating electric installation
CN100361245C (zh) * 2005-12-19 2008-01-09 上海伊莱克斯实业有限公司 快速通断的自洁式凸轮开关
CN110047686A (zh) * 2019-05-14 2019-07-23 广东升威电子制品有限公司 一种防水的按压式旋钮开关
CN110047686B (zh) * 2019-05-14 2024-04-19 广东升威电子制品有限公司 一种防水的按压式旋钮开关
GB2608869A (en) * 2021-07-12 2023-01-18 Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd Switch for disconnecting an electrical circuit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT328026B (de) 1976-02-25
CA1000329A (en) 1976-11-23
CH580331A5 (xx) 1976-09-30
JPS49135172A (xx) 1974-12-26
DK142826B (da) 1981-02-02
NL7402211A (xx) 1974-08-27
AU6597874A (en) 1975-08-28
DE2408053A1 (de) 1974-09-05
FI59180C (fi) 1981-06-10
IT1009171B (it) 1976-12-10
FR2219512A1 (xx) 1974-09-20
FI59180B (fi) 1981-02-27
ATA162773A (de) 1975-05-15
DK142826C (xx) 1981-09-21
SE395790B (sv) 1977-08-22
GB1454566A (en) 1976-11-03
BE811351A (fr) 1974-06-17
ZA741063B (en) 1975-01-29
FR2219512B1 (xx) 1977-09-09

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