Sectional digital selector switch construction

Claim 2

In a multiple selector switch: a plurality of switch units each of which comprises a stationary switch structure and a rotary switch structure; the stationary switch structures being rigidly mounted together in a side-by-side relation along a rotary axis thereby forming a composite stationary switch unit, each switch unit being separate from the others; each of said stationary switch structures having a switch contact board mounted transversely of said axis, each board having a plurality of stationary switch contacts mounted thereon; means for mounting said composite stationary switch unit on a switch panel having an open window section for receiving said composite stationary switch unit; each rotary switch structure having an operating wheel mounted for independent rotary movement about said axis parallel to said panel; each said wheel having on its periphery a plurality of lugs, successive ones of which are spaced apart by an amount sufficient to receive the distal portion of an operator''s finger, at least one lug of each wheel projecting at any one time radially outwardly from said composite stationary switch unit and accessible through such panel when said composite stationary switch unit is mounted thereon whereby said one lug is accessible from the front of said panel for operation by a finger of the user, a plurality of said lugs being located in a position behind such panel at all such times; each wheel being movable between a number of discrete positions corresponding to various information signals to be generated; each wheel also bearing different symbols corresponding respectively to different information signals, a selected one of said symbols being registered in an indicia indicating position where it is visible through the panel when the wheel is moved to one of said discrete positions to generate the information signal corresponding to the selected one symbol; and each wheel carrying rotary contact means, said rotary contact means of said switch unit cooperating with the stationary contact means of each switch unit for generating information signal corresponding to each of said different symbols respectively when said each wheel is set to expose to view the corresponding symbol through said panel, the said discrete positions of the wheel being separated by regular angular spacings.

Claim 3

A multiple selector Switch as defined in claim 1 in which each wheel is angularly movable about said axis without limit in either direction.

Claim 4

In a multiple selector switch: a plurality of switch units each of which comprises a separate switch compartment having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall joining said sidewalls, top and bottom walls joining said sidewalls, and a front wall structure having an open window, each switch unit comprising a plurality of electric terminals extending outwardly of said compartment, a separate stationary switching member mounted in each compartment, each switching member comprising a plurality of stationary contact means connected respectively to said terminals, means for mounting said units as a common compact rigid assembly with said units in side-by-side relation with adjacent sidewalls of each pair of consecutive switch units in the assembly in adjacent side-by-side relation and with all said front walls on the same side of the assembly, means for mounting said assembly on a switch panel having an open panel window section exposing the windows of the respective switch units to view; each switch unit also having an operating wheel mounted for independent rotary movement within a corresponding compartment about an axis parallel to the front of said corresponding compartment, each said wheel having on its periphery a plurality of lugs, successive ones of which are spaced apart by an amount sufficient to receive the distal portion of an operator''s finger, at least one lug of each wheel projecting at any one time radially outwardly from said assembly and accessible through such panel when said assembly is mounted thereon whereby said one lug is accessible from the front of said panel for operation by a finger of the user, each wheel being movable between a number of discrete positions corresponding to various information signals to be generated, each wheel also bearing corresponding symbols, a selected one of which is registered in an indicia indicating position where it is visible through the panel when the wheel is moved to one of said discrete positions corresponding to the selected one indicia, each wheel carrying rotary contact means, said rotary contact means of each switch unit cooperating with the stationary contact means of each switch unit for generating a different information signal corresponding to each of said different symbols respectively when said each wheel is set to expose to view the corresponding symbol through said panel, the said discrete positions of the wheel being separated by regular angular spacings.

Claim 5

In a multiple selector switch: a plurality of switch units each of which comprises a separate switch compartment having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall joining said sidewalls, top and bottom walls joining said sidewalls, and a front wall structure having an open window, each switch unit comprising a plurality of electric terminals extending outwardly of said compartment, a separate stationary switching member mounted in each compartment, each switching member comprising a plurality of stationary contact means connected respectively to said terminals, means for mounting said units as a common compact rigid assembly with said units in side-by-side relation with adjacent sidewalls of each pair of consecutive switch units in the assembly in adjacent side-by-side relation and with all said front walls on the same side of the assembly, means for mounting said assembly on a switch panel having an open panel window section exposing the windows of the respective switch units to view; each switch unit also having an operating wheel mounted for independent rotary movement within a corresponding compartment about an axis parallel to the front of said corresponding compartment, each said wheel having on its periphery a plurality of lugs, successive ones of which are spaced apart by an amount sufficient to receive the distal portion of an operator''s finger, at least one lug of each wheel projecting at any one time radially outwardly from said assembly and accessible through such panel when said assembly is mounted thereon whereby said one lug is accessible from the front of said panel for operation by a finger of the user, each wheel being movable between a number of discrete positions corresponding to various information signals to be generated, each wheel also bearing corresponding symbols, a selected one of which is registered in an indicia indicating position where it is visible through the panel when the wheel is moved to one of said discrete positions corresponding to the selected one indicia, each wheel carrying rotary contact means, said rotary contact means of each switch unit cooperating with the stationary contact means of each switch unit for generating a different information signal corresponding to each of said different symbols respectively when said each wheel is set to expose to view the corresponding symbol through said panel, the said discrete positions of the wheel being separated by regular angular spacings.

Claim 6

A switch as defined in claim 3 wherein each said compartment is substantially closed except for said open window in the front wall structure.

Claim 7

A multiple position selector switch unit comprising: a switch compartment having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall joining said sidewalls, top and bottom walls joining said sidewalls, and a front wall structure having an open window; a plurality of electric terminals extending outwardly of said compartment at a position spaced rearwardly from the front wall structure; a stationary switching member mounted in said compartment, said stationary switching member comprising a plurality of stationary contact means having contact surfaces that face axially, various contacts means being connected to different terminals; means for mounting said switch unit on a switch panel having an open panel window section exposing the open window of said switch unit to view; and said switch unit also having an operating wheel mounted for rotary movement within said compartment about an axis transverse to said sidewalls, said wheel having on its periphery a plurality of finger lugs, successive ones of which are spaced apart by an amount sufficient to receive the distal portion of an operator''s finger, at least one lug of each wheel projecting at any one time radially outwardly and accessible through said open window whereby said one lug is accessible from the front Of said panel for operation by a finger of the user, said wheel being movable between a number of discrete positions corresponding to various information signals to be generated, said wheel also bearing corresponding symbols, a selected one of which is registered in an indicia indicating position where it is visible through the panel when the wheel is moved to one of said discrete positions corresponding to the selected one indicia, said wheel carrying rotary contact means on the side thereof, said rotary contact means cooperating with the stationary contact means of said switch unit for generating a different information signal corresponding to each of said different symbols respectively when said wheel is set to expose to view the corresponding symbol through said panel, the discrete positions of the wheel being separated by regular angular spacings.

Claim 8

A multiple position selector switch unit comprising: a switch compartment having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall joining said sidewalls, top and bottom walls joining said sidewalls, and a front wall structure having an open window; a plurality of electric terminals extending outwardly of said compartment at a position spaced rearwardly from the front wall structure; a stationary switching member mounted in said compartment, said stationary switching member comprising a plurality of stationary contact means having contact surfaces that face axially, various contacts means being connected to different terminals; means for mounting said switch unit on a switch panel having an open panel window section exposing the open window of said switch unit to view; and said switch unit also having an operating wheel mounted for rotary movement within said compartment about an axis transverse to said sidewalls, said wheel having on its periphery a plurality of finger lugs, successive ones of which are spaced apart by an amount sufficient to receive the distal portion of an operator''s finger, at least one lug of each wheel projecting at any one time radially outwardly and accessible through said open window whereby said one lug is accessible from the front Of said panel for operation by a finger of the user, said wheel being movable between a number of discrete positions corresponding to various information signals to be generated, said wheel also bearing corresponding symbols, a selected one of which is registered in an indicia indicating position where it is visible through the panel when the wheel is moved to one of said discrete positions corresponding to the selected one indicia, said wheel carrying rotary contact means on the side thereof, said rotary contact means cooperating with the stationary contact means of said switch unit for generating a different information signal corresponding to each of said different symbols respectively when said wheel is set to expose to view the corresponding symbol through said panel, the discrete positions of the wheel being separated by regular angular spacings.

Claim 9

A selector switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said stationary contacts are connected to various combinations of terminals, each combination being associated with one digit of a digital system, the contacts being so connected that the figure to which the switch is set in its digital system represents the same number as the combination of terminals thereby brought into circuit represent in their digital system, in which adjacent positions of the switch are separated by regular angular spacings and the switch is angularly movable without limit in either direction so as to be movable from the maximum figure to the minimum figure in the direction of increasing figures and vice versa.

Claim 10

A switch as claimed in claim 6 in which the digital system of the switch positions is a decimal system and the wheel is movable to any one of ten positions angularly spaced apart by approximately 36*.

Claim 11

A multiple selector switch as defined in claim 5 wherein: the stationary contact means on said stationary switching member comprising a plurality of radially-spaced apart arcuate switch means, and the rotary contact means on said wheel comprises a plurality of rotary contacts similarly spaced apart radially for contacting said arcuate switch means in various combinations as said wheel is rotated; said rotary contacts being electrically connected together and to a common terminal throughout the wheel rotation; and the rotary contacts being arranged to connect said common terminal to a different combination of four terminals in each of its positions to represent a unit''s digit, a two''s digit, a four''s digit and an eight''s digit in accordance with the binary system.

Claim 12

A switch as defined in claim 8 wherein each said compartment is substantially closed except for said open window in the front wall structure.