US3564171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reed switch devices
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-10-03
•
Granted: 1971-02-16
•
Expires: 1988-10-03
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a reed switch device wherein a bar magnet is mounted in such a way that the on-off switch differential is minimized. The device may be used to respond to changes in speed, pressure, temperature, or inclination.
Inventors
- 👤 John S Hammond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H36/00; H01H36/0006; H01H35/00; H01H35/02; H01H35/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A low reluctance switch apparatus comprising a reed switch mounted for actuation by a bar magnet, a housing, a raceway formed in said housing adjacent said reed switch, and a magnet assembly positioned in said raceway for movement therealong past said reed switch, said magnet assembly comprising a bar magnet and spherically shaped means mounted at each end of said magnet for supporting said magnet in, but spaced from the walls of, said raceway, whereby the magnet assembly can move in the raceway with a minimum of friction said spherically shaped means being formed of a ferromagnetic material which in addition to adding weight to said magnet to facilitate its movement in said raceway also concentrates the magnetic flux produced by said magnet through said spherically shaped means thereby sharply defining the magnetic filed and reducing the on-off switch differential.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A low reluctance switch apparatus comprising a reed switch mounted for actuation by a bar magnet, a housing, a raceway formed in said housing adjacent said reed switch, and a magnet assembly positioned in said raceway for movement therealong past said reed switch, said magnet assembly comprising a bar magnet and spherically shaped means mounted at each end of said magnet for supporting said magnet in, but spaced from the walls of, said raceway, whereby the magnet assembly can move in the raceway with a minimum of friction said spherically shaped means being formed of a ferromagnetic material which in addition to adding weight to said magnet to facilitate its movement in said raceway also concentrates the magnetic flux produced by said magnet through said spherically shaped means thereby sharply defining the magnetic filed and reducing the on-off switch differential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said raceway is connected at both ends to a fluid chamber to form a closed fluid path, and including a viscous fluid in said raceway and fluid chamber whereby movement of said magnet assembly in said raceway will be impeded by the viscous fluid in the closed path to thus provide a time delay in the actuation of said reed switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 2 including valve means at one end of said raceway for restricting fluid flow therein in one direction but not in the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 1 including spring means mounted at one end of said raceway for biasing said magnet assembly away from a switch actuating position, and a pressure connection at the other end of said raceway for connecting said switch apparatus to a pressure source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 4 including valve means at said other end of said raceway for restricting movement of the pressure medium in one direction in said raceway but not in the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 4 including adjustment means for varying the biasing effect of said spring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 1 including a temperature sensing means mounted in the switch housing and having a member movable in said raceway in response to temperature changes, and spring means mounted in said raceway for biasing said magnet assembly against said movable member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 1 including a member adapted for rotary motion on which said housing is mounted with its raceway oriented in a radial direction, spring means for biasing the magnet assembly towards the inner end of said raceway, and means for adjusting the compression of said spring means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing is in the form of a flow vane, and including means for pivotally mounting said housing in a conduit through which a fluid flows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Switch apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing is in the form of a float member, and including resilient means for pivotally mounting said housing to the wall of a vessel in which a liquid is stored.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2119944A
Cited
US2580759A
Cited
US2976378A
Cited
US3057977A
Cited
US3198901A
Cited
US3250871A
Cited
US3389317A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-15 | 1974-08-17 | 1975-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-15 | 1978-08-17 | 1979-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-15 | 1982-08-17 | 1983-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |