Multiple push button switch speed control system

Claim 2

In a multiple switch having a housing, a plurality of switches each having a movable conductor means supported in parallel positions in the housing and movable for independent actuation to open and close each switch, actuating means for the movable conductor means including a reciprocable assembly of two elements having two parallel groups of permutation cams each movable between two alternate positions of switch actuation and with respect to each other to slidably engage the movable conductor means to open and close three switches, manually operable means selectively engaging and reciprocating said movable conductor actuating means to move said two parallel groups of cams to four relative positions with respect to said movable conductors to provide at any time one of four different permutation patterns of switch openings, and said cams being constructed and arranged in three of said relative positions to open one of the switches each time either one or both of the others are closed, and in the fourth position to open both of said other switches when said one switch is closed.

Claim 3

The switch defined in claim 1 in which, said conductor means are normally biased to close said switches and said cams are actuated by selective movement of said groups of cams in predetermined patterns of movement to move said plurality of movable conductor means selectively to switch opening positions in different ones of said four positions.

Claim 4

The switch defined in claim 1 including, an additional switch opened and closed by a fourth movable conductor connected in series with said three switches in said four permutation patterns, another manually operable means to selectively reciprocate said movable conductor actuating means, another movable conductor actuating means coacting with the first activating means and opening the fourth movable conductor of said switch means when predetermined permutations of the three cOnductor positions is established by the two parallel groups of cams actuated by said other manually operable means.

Claim 5

The switch defined in claim 2 in which, said groups of cams are moved longitudinally predetermined equal distances between each of their two alternate positions, to translate each movable conductor means between an open and a closed position, a main switch movable conductor means connected in series with said three switches, and cam means carried by said movable conductor actuating means to open said main switch movable conductor means during the mid point travel of said cams, said cams effectively overlapping said cam means in its travel to actuate said three switches to change their permutation within the period of time the main switch movable conductor means is open during said mid point of its travel.

Claim 6

The switch defined in claim 2 in which said movable conductor actuating means comprises a plurality of dielectric sliders disposed slidably on their edges to extend and be movable transversely to said movable conductors between said manually operable means and said movable conductors and having reciprocably actuated cams disposed along one edge of each slider at four stations and individually engaged by said manually operable means and recesses along another edge defining reciprocably actuating cams at three stations that engage in their travel said movable conductor means to open or close them by their translation.

Claim 7

The switch defined in claim 4 in which said three switches including their movable conductors are constructed as rated low for only a specific electrical current carrying capacity, and the main switch and its movable conductor is constructed as rated high enough to make and break such specific electrical current.

Claim 8

The switch defined in claim 5 including guide means interengaging said conductors to support them against component forces of the cams exerted in directions other than that opening and closing the switches.

Claim 9

In a multiple switch having a housing, a plurality of switches each one of six of which have an independently movable conductor supported in parallel relation with the others to define six aligned switch stations in the housing to open and close the switches in two groups of three each, actuating means for the moving conductors including a reciprocable assembly of four elements defining four parallel groups of permutatably responsive cams at said six stations to open and close respective movable conductors of the six switches in two sections of three switches each, manually operable means to selectively reciprocate said four elements with respect to one another to permutate said groups of cams with respect to said conductors to provide eight different patterns of switch openings and closings, said cams being constructed and arranged in three of said relative positions to open one of the switches of each group each time either one or both of the other switches of such group are closed, and in the fourth positions to open both of said other switches in the same group when said one switch is closed.

Claim 10

In a multiple switch having a housing, a plurality of switches each one of six of which have an independently movable conductor supported in parallel relation with the others to define six aligned switch stations in the housing to open and close the switches in two groups of three each, actuating means for the moving conductors including a reciprocable assembly of four elements defining four parallel groups of permutatably responsive cams at said six stations to open and close respective movable conductors of the six switches in two sections of three switches each, manually operable means to selectively reciprocate said four elements with respect to one another to permutate said groups of cams with respect to said conductors to provide eight different patterns of switch openings and closings, said cams being constructed and arranged in three of said relative positions to open one of the switches of each group each time either one or both of the other switches of such group are closed, and in the fourth positions to open both of said other switches in the same group when said one switch is closed.

Claim 11

The switch defined in claim 8 including a switch means having a movable conductor connected in series with said switches, and cam means carried by said movable conductor actuating means along with two parallel groups of cams to open the movable conductor of said switch means when a predetermined permutation of conductor positions are established by two parallel groups of cams.

Claim 12

The switch defined in claim 9 including an electrical current impedance means shunting said switch means.

Claim 13

The switch defined in claim 10 in which said current impedance means is a half-wave rectifier.

Claim 14

In a multiple push button switch having a housing and a plurality of push rod means mounted therein for manual operation, a plurality of sliders reciprocably permuted by said push rod means, a plurality of switches slidably actuated by said sliders in Predetermined pattern combinations, a plurality of push button means that are arranged in pairs the members of which independently actuate said push rod means selectively, switch means connected in series with said switches, means controlling said switch means alternately operated by certain members of each pair of said push button means for movement to activate said switch means and by certain other members of each pair of said push button means for movement to deactivate said switch means in relation to the actuation of said switches by said push rod means and sliders.

Claim 15

In a multiple push button switch having a housing and a plurality of push rod means mounted therein for manual operation, a plurality of sliders reciprocably permuted by said push rod means, a plurality of switches slidably actuated by said sliders in Predetermined pattern combinations, a plurality of push button means that are arranged in pairs the members of which independently actuate said push rod means selectively, switch means connected in series with said switches, means controlling said switch means alternately operated by certain members of each pair of said push button means for movement to activate said switch means and by certain other members of each pair of said push button means for movement to deactivate said switch means in relation to the actuation of said switches by said push rod means and sliders.

Claim 16

The switch called for in claim 12 in which the members of each pair of the push button means permutes the sliders identically for identical switch pattern combinations and different pairs permute said sliders for different identical switch pattern combinations.

Claim 17

The switch called for in claim 12 in which the last mentioned means comprises lever means tilted in one direction by any push button means in the group of said certain members of each pair of push button means to activate said switch means, and tilted in the opposite direction by any push button means in the group of said certain other members of push button means to deactivate said switch means.

Claim 18

The switch called for in claim 12 in which the last mentioned means comprises slider means controlling said switch means moved in opposite directions by said respective groups of said push button means.

Claim 19

The combination called for in claim 12 in which each push button means of a pair includes a plunger and both plungers of a pair are engageable with each push rod means, and push buttons on each plunger for selective manual actuation thereof.

Claim 20

The device called for in claim 12 in which the last mentioned means includes a reciprocating lever engaged by the members of each pair on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the lever for reciprocating the lever with opposite members of each pair, and means connecting the lever to said switch means on one side of said fulcrum.

Claim 21

In a multiple push button switch having a housing with a slider chamber, a plurality of push rods mounted upon said housing for selective operation, a plurality of switches mounted in the chamber each having a movable conductor member, a plurality of sliders in said chamber having cam inclines engaged by the push rods and reciprocably permuted by said push rods, said sliders having cam inclines and dwells actuating said movable conductor members of the switches in predetermined pattern combination, bracket means supported on said housing having spaced guide means, plungers supported in guided relation in said guide means on opposite sides of and engaging said push rods in pairs, a frame member pivotally mounted on said bracket means for movement about an axis extending through said push rods and engaged on opposite sides by said plungers, and switch means connected to said frame member and alternatively activated and deactivated by movement of the frame member by said plungers.

Claim 22

In a multiple push button switch having a housing with a slider chamber, a plurality of push rods mounted upon said housing for selective operation, a plurality of switches mounted in the chamber each having a movable conductor member, a plurality of sliders in said chamber having cam inclines engaged by the push rods and reciprocably permuted by said push rods, said sliders having cam inclines and dwells actuating said movable conductor members of the switches in predetermined pattern combination, bracket means supported on said housing having spaced guide means, plungers supported in guided relation in said guide means on opposite sides of and engaging said push rods in pairs, a frame member pivotally mounted on said bracket means for movement about an axis extending through said push rods and engaged on opposite sides by said plungers, and switch means connected to said frame member and alternatively activated and deactivated by movement of the frame member by said plungers.

Claim 23

The combination called for in claim 18 including a mounting means for said housing having openings coinciding with said plungers, push buttons on said plungers received in guided relationship in said openings, and spring means interconnecting said plunger and bracket means for urging the plungers and push button outwardly for manual access and actuation.

Claim 24

In a multiple push button switch, a housing having an elongated cavity, a plurality of switches connected in series carried by said housing each including cooperating switch contact means, one contact of which is movable with respect to the other contact, a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable sliders received in guided relationship in said cavity with contact activating cam and dwell surfaces actuating said movable contact means of said switches in predetermined pattern combinations, the cam dwell surface on one slider activating oNe of the switches being shorter than the cam dwell surfaces that activate other of said serially connected switches, whereby said one switch is the last to close and the first to open during reciprocation of said sliders.

Claim 25

In a multiple push button switch, a housing having an elongated cavity, a plurality of switches connected in series carried by said housing each including cooperating switch contact means, one contact of which is movable with respect to the other contact, a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable sliders received in guided relationship in said cavity with contact activating cam and dwell surfaces actuating said movable contact means of said switches in predetermined pattern combinations, the cam dwell surface on one slider activating oNe of the switches being shorter than the cam dwell surfaces that activate other of said serially connected switches, whereby said one switch is the last to close and the first to open during reciprocation of said sliders.

Claim 26

The combination defined in claim 20 in which said push buttons have an enlarged portion describing a path of movement and engaging the one slider in recesses defining a first cam surface in said path of movement throughout movement of the slider and a second cam surface overlapping a portion of the first cam moved by said first cam surface into said path of movement during the terminal movement of said push button.

Claim 27

The combination called for in claim 20 in which said shorter cam dwell is a protuberance actuating said one switch at the mid point of the reciprocable travel of said one slider.

Claim 28

The combination called for in claim 20 including one push button means for moving said sliders in one direction of their reciprocation to close said switches, and means carried by said one slider cooperating with a second button means reciprocating said slider having the short cam dwell in the other direction a partial distance to open said one switch upon initial movement of another slider in either direction.

Claim 29

The combination called for in claim 23 in which the last mentioned means comprises two opposing cams successively engaged by the second push button means to move said one slider far enough to open the one switch on its initial movement and engage the other cam to return the slider to its switch closing position on its terminal movement.

Claim 30

In a multiple push button switch having a housing and a plurality of push rods mounted therein, arranged in cross-paired groups, a plurality of sliders reciprocably permuted by said groups of push rods, a plurality of switches actuated by said sliders in predetermined pattern combinations, one of said sliders having cam inclines engageable by push rods of one of the groups of push rods for movement in one direction to activate one of said switches, another one of said sliders having cam inclines engageable by push rods of another one of said groups for movement in the opposite direction to deactivate said one of said switches.

Claim 31

In a multiple push button switch having a housing and a plurality of push rods mounted therein, arranged in cross-paired groups, a plurality of sliders reciprocably permuted by said groups of push rods, a plurality of switches actuated by said sliders in predetermined pattern combinations, one of said sliders having cam inclines engageable by push rods of one of the groups of push rods for movement in one direction to activate one of said switches, another one of said sliders having cam inclines engageable by push rods of another one of said groups for movement in the opposite direction to deactivate said one of said switches.

Claim 32

The combination called for in claim 25 in which said switch means includes an electric current rectifying shunt.

Claim 33

The combination called for in claim 25 including means interconnecting said one slider and the other slider for movement simultaneously in the same direction as a unit.

Claim 34

The combination called for in claim 27 in which the remaining sliders are supported in assembled relationship upon said interconnecting means for relative movement with respect to each other and said supporting means.

Claim 35

In a multiple push button switch, a housing having a slider compartment and a set of sliders reciprocable therein having parallel groups of permutation cams movable with respect to one another between two alternate positions, a plurality of switches actuated by said sliders, a plurality of L-shaped push rods reciprocably mounted in said housing defining cam engaging toe and heel portions at their lower ends and arranged in pairs to engage said cams and permute said sliders, said push rods being shaped to receive push buttons on the upper ends thereof and the lower ends of said push rods having their toe and heel portions disposed with their toe portions overlapping side-by-side in said pairs to engage the same permutation cams on some of said sliders and their heel portions spaced lengthwise from each other with the heel portion of each extending beyond the end of the toe portion of the other in each of said pairs to engage different cams on other sliders separately from each other.

Claim 36

In a multiple push button switch, a housing having a slider compartment and a set of sliders reciprocable therein having parallel groups of permutation cams movable with respect to one another between two alternate positions, a plurality of switches actuated by said sliders, a plurality of L-shaped push rods reciprocably mounted in said housing defining cam engaging toe and heel portions at their lower ends and arranged in pairs to engage said cams and permute said sliders, said push rods being shaped to receive push buttons on the upper ends thereof and the lower ends of said push rods having their toe and heel portions disposed with their toe portions overlapping side-by-side in said pairs to engage the same permutation cams on some of said sliders and their heel portions spaced lengthwise from each other with the heel portion of each extending beyond the end of the toe portion of the other in each of said pairs to engage different cams on other sliders separately from each other.

Claim 37

In a multiple push button switch having a housing and a plurality of push rods reciprocably mounted therein for manually induced operation, a plurality of sliders reciprocably permuted by said push rods, a pluralitY of switches actuated by said sliders for predetermined pattern combinations of switch closures, a plurality of pairs of push button means to actuate the push rods in which each push button means of a pair includes a plunger and a push button thereon to actuate the push rod independently of the other push button means of the pair, switch means connected to predetermined switches, and means controlling said switch means operated by one push button means of a group of certain push button means of each pair to activate the said switch means and operated by one of a group of certain other push button means to deactivate said switch means in conjunction with the operation of a single push rod.

Claim 38

In a multiple push button switch having a housing and a plurality of push rods reciprocably mounted therein for manually induced operation, a plurality of sliders reciprocably permuted by said push rods, a pluralitY of switches actuated by said sliders for predetermined pattern combinations of switch closures, a plurality of pairs of push button means to actuate the push rods in which each push button means of a pair includes a plunger and a push button thereon to actuate the push rod independently of the other push button means of the pair, switch means connected to predetermined switches, and means controlling said switch means operated by one push button means of a group of certain push button means of each pair to activate the said switch means and operated by one of a group of certain other push button means to deactivate said switch means in conjunction with the operation of a single push rod.

Claim 39

In a multiple push button switch a housing having a slider compartment and a plurality of push rods mounted therein, a plurality of slider members in said compartment reciprocably permuted by said push rods, a plurality of switches having movable connectors actuated by said sliders in predetermined pattern combinations, guide means in said compartment including a guide member interengaging said push rods and connectors in coordinated guiding relationship against lateral movement in a direction longitudinally of said slider members during engagement of said slider members by said push rods.

Claim 40

In a multiple push button switch a housing having a slider compartment and a plurality of push rods mounted therein, a plurality of slider members in said compartment reciprocably permuted by said push rods, a plurality of switches having movable connectors actuated by said sliders in predetermined pattern combinations, guide means in said compartment including a guide member interengaging said push rods and connectors in coordinated guiding relationship against lateral movement in a direction longitudinally of said slider members during engagement of said slider members by said push rods.

Claim 41

The combination called for in claim 31 in which said guide means includes two spaced guide members and means interconnecting two of said slider members supporting other slider members in a unitary assembled relationship.

Claim 42

The combination called for in claim 31 including means interconnecting two of said members in mutually cooperative relationship, and means supporting the other members upon said interconnecting means as a unitary assembly for relative movement of the slider members with respect to each other and with respect to said guide members.

Claim 43

The combination defined in claim 31 in which said guide member is a rectangular plate supported against longitudinal movement in said compartment, the upper edge of said plate being vertically notched to receive the lower ends of said push rods in guided relation and the lower edge being recessed to receive the connectors in their vertical movement.

Claim 44

The combination defined in claim 31 in which said guide member has recesses along its lower edge to receive said connectors, said connectors having smoothly rounded edges engaging the walls of said recesses in vertically-guided relationship.

Claim 45

The combination called for in claim 6 in which one of said switches is shunted by an electric current rectifier, one of said sliders having a translation cam inclined in one direction actuated by one of said push buttons to close said shunted switch and a translation cam in the opposite direction actuated by the other push button for opening said switch.

Claim 46

In a multiple push button switch having a housing and a plurality of push button means for manual operation independently, a plurality of sliders reciprocably permuted by said push button means, a plurality of switches actuated by said sliders for predetermined pattern combinations of switch closures, an additional switch means conductively connected to predetermined ones of said switches and shunted by an electric current impedance, means controlling said switch means including a translation cam on one of said sliders to be moved in one direction by one of said push buttons to close said switch means, and latch means to hold said one of said sliders in a selected position when activated by movement thereof by said one of said push buttons and released by actuation of another one of the push buttons.

Claim 47

In a multiple push button switch having a housing and a plurality of push button means for manual operation independently, a plurality of sliders reciprocably permuted by said push button means, a plurality of switches actuated by said sliders for predetermined pattern combinations of switch closures, an additional switch means conductively connected to predetermined ones of said switches and shunted by an electric current impedance, means controlling said switch means including a translation cam on one of said sliders to be moved in one direction by one of said push buttons to close said switch means, and latch means to hold said one of said sliders in a selected position when activated by movement thereof by said one of said push buttons and released by actuation of another one of the push buttons.

Claim 48

The combination called for in claim 37 in which said latch means comprises a shoulder between a high and low dwell at the station for said switch means which shoulder is engaged by the moving conductor of said switch means when closed, and means carried by one of said plurality of switches to move said moving conducTor of said switch means to clear said shoulder when actuated.

Claim 49

The combination called for in claim 37 including resilient means urging said slider in the opposite direction upon release of the latch means.

Claim 50

The combination called for in claim 37 in which said latching means comprises a shoulder between a high and a low dwell at the station for said switch means which shoulder is engaged by the switch means when the switch means is closed, resilient means urging said slider in the opposite direction, and means carried by said switching means to move said switch means from engagement with said shoulder to the level of the high dwell when said other of the two push buttons is actuated for movement by said resilient means of the high dwell under the switch means to hold the switch means open.

Claim 51

A multiple push button switch comprising a plurality of sliders having notches along their top edges defining speed stations with engageable inclines related in permutation patterns, and recesses along their bottom edges at each switch station in related patterns, a plurality of manually actuated push rods to engage said inclines at each speed station for reciprocably permutating said sliders, a plurality of switches disposed at said recesses, and including a main switch connectable in series with said switches, said recesses having cams actuating said switches in predetermined permutation pattern combinations, one of said sliders and one of said push rods coacting to open said main switch when said one of said push rods is pressed, said push rod actuating at least one of the other sliders to establish predetermined switch permutation closures with the other switches, and push button means to reciprocate said main switch slider to actuate said main switch to make and open the series connection during the time said predetermined switch permutation remains established.

Claim 52

A multiple push button switch comprising a plurality of sliders having notches along their top edges defining speed stations with engageable inclines related in permutation patterns, and recesses along their bottom edges at each switch station in related patterns, a plurality of manually actuated push rods to engage said inclines at each speed station for reciprocably permutating said sliders, a plurality of switches disposed at said recesses, and including a main switch connectable in series with said switches, said recesses having cams actuating said switches in predetermined permutation pattern combinations, one of said sliders and one of said push rods coacting to open said main switch when said one of said push rods is pressed, said push rod actuating at least one of the other sliders to establish predetermined switch permutation closures with the other switches, and push button means to reciprocate said main switch slider to actuate said main switch to make and open the series connection during the time said predetermined switch permutation remains established.

Claim 53

In a switch the combination of a first switch between two other switches and having a movable conductor to connect the two switches in series, the other switches including a second switch having a movable conductor to shunt said first switch, and a third switch having a movable conductor to shunt said first switch, a pair of circuit connector terminals between one side of the first switch and the second switch and a pair of terminals between the other side of the first switch and the third switch, switch control means for said movable conductors including a pair of switch control sliders independently movable between alternate positions and having notches along their top edge defining four speed stations with inclines related to said four stations to provide four different permutations of the sliders, push button means engaging said slider inclines at each speed station, said sliders having recesses along their bottom edges one at each of the three switch stations, one of said sliders having cams in two recesses to close the first switch conductor while opening the second switch conductor with movement in one direction and opening the first switch conductor while closing said second switch conductor with movement in the other direction, the other one of said sliders having in two recesses cams coordinated with the movement of said first slider to close said third switch conductor when said first switch conductor is opened, and to close said first switch conductor when said third switch conductor is open whereby said first switch is open when either the second and third switch is closed.

Claim 54

In a switch the combination of a first switch between two other switches and having a movable conductor to connect the two switches in series, the other switches including a second switch having a movable conductor to shunt said first switch, and a third switch having a movable conductor to shunt said first switch, a pair of circuit connector terminals between one side of the first switch and the second switch and a pair of terminals between the other side of the first switch and the third switch, switch control means for said movable conductors including a pair of switch control sliders independently movable between alternate positions and having notches along their top edge defining four speed stations with inclines related to said four stations to provide four different permutations of the sliders, push button means engaging said slider inclines at each speed station, said sliders having recesses along their bottom edges one at each of the three switch stations, one of said sliders having cams in two recesses to close the first switch conductor while opening the second switch conductor with movement in one direction and opening the first switch conductor while closing said second switch conductor with movement in the other direction, the other one of said sliders having in two recesses cams coordinated with the movement of said first slider to close said third switch conductor when said first switch conductor is opened, and to close said first switch conductor when said third switch conductor is open whereby said first switch is open when either the second and third switch is closed.

Claim 55

The combination called for in claim 42 including a main switch at a main switch station having a conductor for connecting said switches in series with a source of electrical power, and protuberance means in the slider recesses at the main switch station to momentarily open said main switch when a slider is moved to its alternate position.

Claim 56

The combination called for in claim 43 in which two cams for each sliDer are oppositely inclined, each at two of three switch stations separately and oppositely inclined at the common one of the three switch stations.