Patent US3020580A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3600533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical switch and combination electrical resistor and switch
Assignee: CTS Corp
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Filing: 1969-07-03
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Granted: 1971-08-17
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Expires: 1989-07-03
Abstract
Abstract An actuator, coiled compression spring, and abutment surface or pair of stationary contact surfaces trap a contact roller. The spring shifts relative to the roller, assumes various contorted configurations, and whips the roller along actuator cam surfaces to stable roller positions. Also disclosed are means interlocking a shaft and switch actuator; a rotatable and axially movable switch actuator; and an actuator and shaft that snap together with means that prevent subsequent separation of the shaft and actuator.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack A English
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/32; H01C10/36; H01C10/363; H01H; H01H5/00; H01H5/04; H01H5/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
313 words
An electrical control comprising a housing, a first stationary contact surface fixedly positioned within the housing, a second stationary contact surface spaced from the first contact surface and fixedly positioned within the housing, an actuator having a cam surface and movable between at least two stable actuator positions along a predetermined path, a cylindrical contact roller movable to a first stable contact roller position wherein the contact roller is biased against said contact surfaces thereby to establish an electrical connection between said contact surfaces thereby to establish an electrical connection between said contact surfaces and movable to a second stable roller position wherein the contact roller is physically spaced from at least one of said contact surfaces, a spring means for wedging the contact roller between said cam surface and said contact surfaces, said spring means having a first portion thereof seated in the housing, a second portion bearing against and compressively engaging the contact roller, and a third resilient portion extending between said first and second portions, said resilient portion having energy stored therein while the contact roller is in the first stable position, initial movement of the actuator from a stable position thereof corresponding to said first contact stable roller position effecting movement of the contact roller along the cam surface and said contact surfaces to a position of maximum lateral displacement relative to the actuator, such movement of the contact roller causing the spring means to assume a condition of maximum compression, further movement of the actuator effecting further movement of the contact roller to a position of reduced lateral displacement corresponding to a first labile neutral position of the contact roller, such further movement of the contact roller causing the spring means to assume a partially decompressed condition, still further movement of the actuator causing the spring means to whip the contact roller to the second stable position thEreof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
313 words
An electrical control comprising a housing, a first stationary contact surface fixedly positioned within the housing, a second stationary contact surface spaced from the first contact surface and fixedly positioned within the housing, an actuator having a cam surface and movable between at least two stable actuator positions along a predetermined path, a cylindrical contact roller movable to a first stable contact roller position wherein the contact roller is biased against said contact surfaces thereby to establish an electrical connection between said contact surfaces thereby to establish an electrical connection between said contact surfaces and movable to a second stable roller position wherein the contact roller is physically spaced from at least one of said contact surfaces, a spring means for wedging the contact roller between said cam surface and said contact surfaces, said spring means having a first portion thereof seated in the housing, a second portion bearing against and compressively engaging the contact roller, and a third resilient portion extending between said first and second portions, said resilient portion having energy stored therein while the contact roller is in the first stable position, initial movement of the actuator from a stable position thereof corresponding to said first contact stable roller position effecting movement of the contact roller along the cam surface and said contact surfaces to a position of maximum lateral displacement relative to the actuator, such movement of the contact roller causing the spring means to assume a condition of maximum compression, further movement of the actuator effecting further movement of the contact roller to a position of reduced lateral displacement corresponding to a first labile neutral position of the contact roller, such further movement of the contact roller causing the spring means to assume a partially decompressed condition, still further movement of the actuator causing the spring means to whip the contact roller to the second stable position thEreof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The electrical control of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the spring means maintains bearing contact with the surface of the contact roller at substantially two points thereby to reduce frictional forces between the contact roller and spring and permit the spring means to assume contorted configurations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electrical control of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the spring means shifts tangentially relative to the contact roller when the contact roller moves from the position of maximum lateral displacement to the position of reduced lateral displacement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical control of claim 1 wherein the pressure angle between the spring means and contact roller increases as the contact roller moves from the first stable position to the labile neutral position thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
The electrical control of claim 1 wherein the spring means is a coiled helical element having a central axis substantially normal to said predetermined path, the second portion of the spring means comprises an end convolution of the helical element, and the spring means has a contorted configuration when in the partially decompressed condition, said contorted configuration being defined by adjacent convolutions on the side of the spring means proximate to the stationary contact surfaces being disposed in closer proximity to each other than the adjacent convolutions on the side of the spring means distal from the stationary contact surfaces, the contorted configuration causing the spring means to cock as the contact roller reaches the first labile neutral position thereof and whip the contact roller to the second stable position thereof as the side of the spring means proximate to the stationary contact surfaces expand.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The electrical control of claim 1 wherein the control includes a rotatable and axially movable shaft, a resistance element, and a contactor wipingly engaging the resistance element and constrained to rotate with the shaft, axial movement of the shaft causing movement of the actuator along said predetermined path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrical control of claim 6 wherein the actuator includes a pair of closed jaws disposed in an interlocking arrangement with the shaft and the control further comprises means for holding said jaws closed when a pullout force is applied to said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrical control of claim 7 wherein the shaft includes a locking lug, the jaws are closed around the locking lug, and the means for holding comprise a driver having an internal wall surrounding the jaws at least when a pullout force is applied to the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical control of claim 6 wherein the actuator and shaft are formed integrally with each other and wherein the actuator moves axially and rotates in response to axial and rotary movement of the shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an electrical control, the combination of a housing, resistance means within the housing, a driver disposed in the housing, means carried by the driver for making wiping contact with the resistance means, at least one pair of stationary contact surfaces, at least one cylindrical contact roller movable between two stable positions and into and out of engagement with at least one of said stationary contact surfaces, a switch actuator engageable with the contract roller, spring means bearing against the contact roller for urging the contact roller against both of said stationary contact surfaces, and means for moving the driver relative to the resistance means and for moving the switch actuator between first and second stable positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an electrical control, the combination of a housing, resistance means within the housing, a driver disposed in the housing, means carried by the driver for making wiping contact with the resistance means, at least one pair of stationary contact surfaces, at least one cylindrical contact roller movable between two stable positions and into and out of engagement with at least one of said stationary contact surfaces, a switch actuator engageable with the contract roller, spring means bearing against the contact roller for urging the contact roller against both of said stationary contact surfaces, and means for moving the driver relative to the resistance means and for moving the switch actuator between first and second stable positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The electrical control of claim 10 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a rotatable and axially movable shaft and the actuator includes a pair of jaws interfitting with said shaft thereby to permit rotation of the shaft relative to the actuator and to limit axial movement of the shaft relative to the actuator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
The electrical control of claim 10 wherein the driver is provided with a centrally located aperture, and a centrally located retaining wall, The means for moving the switch actuator comprises a rotatable and axially movable shaft extending through the aperture, and the actuator includes a pair of jaws interfitting with the shaft, said jaws being disposed within the retaining wall when the contact roller is in at least one of the stable positions thereof whereby the retaining wall prevents the jaws from opening and releasing the shaft when a pullout force is applied to the shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical control of claim 10 wherein the last mentioned means comprise a rotatable shaft secured to the switch actuator and the switch actuator is provided with two continuous cam surfaces engageable with the contact roller, said actuator being rotatable and axially movable with said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
215 words
An electrical control comprising at least one abutment surface, a pair of stationary contact surfaces, an actuator movable between first and second stable actuator positions, at least one cylindrical contact roller movable to a first stable roller position as the actuator is moved to the first stable actuator position and movable to a second stable roller position as the actuator is moved to the second stable actuator position, an spring means having an end portion seated within the housing and a bearing portion compressively engaging the surface of the contact roller, said spring compressively biasing the contact roller against the pair of stationary contact surfaces in the first stable roller position and compressively urging the contact roller against said at least one abutment surface in the second stable roller position, said roller having a pair of end portions engageable with the stationary contact surfaces, a central portion engageable with the actuator, a first portion between the central portion engageable with the actuator, a first portion between the central portion and one of the end portions engageable with the spring means, and a second portion between the central portion and the other one of the end portions engageable with the spring means whereby the contact roller engages the stationary contact surfaces with a balanced contact pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
215 words
An electrical control comprising at least one abutment surface, a pair of stationary contact surfaces, an actuator movable between first and second stable actuator positions, at least one cylindrical contact roller movable to a first stable roller position as the actuator is moved to the first stable actuator position and movable to a second stable roller position as the actuator is moved to the second stable actuator position, an spring means having an end portion seated within the housing and a bearing portion compressively engaging the surface of the contact roller, said spring compressively biasing the contact roller against the pair of stationary contact surfaces in the first stable roller position and compressively urging the contact roller against said at least one abutment surface in the second stable roller position, said roller having a pair of end portions engageable with the stationary contact surfaces, a central portion engageable with the actuator, a first portion between the central portion engageable with the actuator, a first portion between the central portion and one of the end portions engageable with the spring means, and a second portion between the central portion and the other one of the end portions engageable with the spring means whereby the contact roller engages the stationary contact surfaces with a balanced contact pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical control of claim 2 wherein said two points are spaced a distance greater than the diameter of said contact roller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrical control of claim 15 wherein said cam surface and said second portion engage said contact roller at points spaced from each other and spaced from the points of engagement of the contact roller and the contact surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-16 | 1975-02-15 | 1975-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-16 | 1979-02-15 | 1979-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-16 | 1983-02-15 | 1983-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |