Abstract At least one glass tube enclosed magnetic reed switch is mounted on a planar printed circuit board which is removably inserted into a hollow housing member in grooves on either side of an axially movable planar key member with a magnet thereon actuating the switch contacts during a limited range of movement. This provides a universal mounting arrangement wherein one to four switches and other circuit elements may be located upon the printed circuit cards for operation by a single manually depressed key at one or more positions of its stroke. Each switch is standardized for predetermined operation timing during the magnet movement by selectively bending the leads and inserting into registration apertures in the printed circuit boards. The switch is thus precisely located within the magnetic field by simplified structure affording strain relief at closed ends of the glass tubes. The leads are bent normal to the reed switch axis for this purpose at calibrated positions to thereby precisely locate the magnetic switch gaps by means of punched hole pairs easily located to close tolerances in the printed circuit board.
The method of establishing a standardized switching position of at least one magnetic reed switch taken from a group of switches of varying characteristics, said switch constructed with leads extending axially from a set of contacts through opposite ends of a tubular glass enclosure, wherein said switch is operated to switch at a predetermined position of a magnet movable over a limited range alongside the axis of said leads comprising the steps of: gauging accurately a gauged position on each lead extending from the switch contacts, bending the two leads of the switch to make a reference marker while at said gauged position to provide means for mounting the switch in a referenced position, establishing a set of registration apertures in a circuit board positioned to receive the bent leads, and affixing the switch in a standard position in the circuit board through the apertures by extending the bent leads therethrough, mounting the switch adjacent said magnet range in a station posiTion fixed relative to the axis of the switch by said reference marker on the lead, and moving the magnet in said range adjacent said switch at a distance therefrom causing the reed to switch at a predetermined standard position of the magnet in the range.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
The method of establishing a standardized switching position of at least one magnetic reed switch taken from a group of switches of varying characteristics, said switch constructed with leads extending axially from a set of contacts through opposite ends of a tubular glass enclosure, wherein said switch is operated to switch at a predetermined position of a magnet movable over a limited range alongside the axis of said leads comprising the steps of: gauging accurately a gauged position on each lead extending from the switch contacts, bending the two leads of the switch to make a reference marker while at said gauged position to provide means for mounting the switch in a referenced position, establishing a set of registration apertures in a circuit board positioned to receive the bent leads, and affixing the switch in a standard position in the circuit board through the apertures by extending the bent leads therethrough, mounting the switch adjacent said magnet range in a station posiTion fixed relative to the axis of the switch by said reference marker on the lead, and moving the magnet in said range adjacent said switch at a distance therefrom causing the reed to switch at a predetermined standard position of the magnet in the range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 1, including the step of mounting two switches on a circuit board in apertures positioned relative to the magnet range so that the magnet operates the switch contacts of the respective switches at different positions in the range.