US3688593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for actuating a limit control element
Assignee: Buchanan Electrical Products Corp
•
Filing: 1970-09-29
•
Granted: 1972-09-05
•
Expires: 1990-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A device for actuating a control element such as a limit switch. The device has an actuating arm which is rotated to actuate the switch. The arm is adjustable, without disassembling the device, to provide three modes of switch operation; one in which the switch is operated only by clockwise rotation of the arm, a second in which only counterclockwise arm rotation produces switch operation, and a third in which the switch is operated by rotation in either direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin D Ustin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:33
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/08; H; H01; H01H; H01H21/00; H01H21/02; H01H21/18; H01H21/22; H01H21/24; H01H21/28; H01H21/285; H01H2021/287; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18888; Y10T74/1892; Y10T74/1896; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2101; Y10T74/2102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for actuating a control element, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a support structure, a shaft, cam means on said shaft, a cam follower for actuation of said control element, means for mounting said shaft on said support structure so as to be rotatable and movable longitudinally with respect to said support structure, said cam means having at least two portions spaced longitudinally on said shaft, one of said portions being shaped to move said cam follower upon the rotation of said shaft in one direction but not in the other, and the other of said portions being shaped to move said cam follower upon the rotation of said shaft in said other direction, a housing around said shaft and cam means, and locking means for selectively locking said shaft in a plurality of different longitudinal positions, said locking means extending through a wall of said housing so as to be accessible from the outside of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for actuating a control element, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a support structure, a shaft, cam means on said shaft, a cam follower for actuation of said control element, means for mounting said shaft on said support structure so as to be rotatable and movable longitudinally with respect to said support structure, said cam means having at least two portions spaced longitudinally on said shaft, one of said portions being shaped to move said cam follower upon the rotation of said shaft in one direction but not in the other, and the other of said portions being shaped to move said cam follower upon the rotation of said shaft in said other direction, a housing around said shaft and cam means, and locking means for selectively locking said shaft in a plurality of different longitudinal positions, said locking means extending through a wall of said housing so as to be accessible from the outside of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which each of said cam portions is a separate cam, each cam having substantially the same shape as the other cam, with one cam being positioned on said shaft in an orientation opposite to that of the other cam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said shaft has a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart grooves, said locking means including a locking member shaped to fit into each of said grooves, spring means urging said locking member towards said grooves, and means operable for selectively disengaging said locking member from each of said grooves, two of said grooves each being located so as to bring only one or the other of said cam portions into engagement with said cam follower, and a third groove located intermediate said two grooves so as to bring said cam follower into engagement with both of said cam portions simultaneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including spring-biased means for returning said shaft to an initial position at which said follower is not depressed, said means including a pair of parallel springs each capable of so returning said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including an arm secured to said shaft and a roller mounted on said arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said cam portions are located closely adjacent one another on said shaft, and in which said cam follower has an end which rides against said cam means, said end having a width which is less than the width of either of said cam portions, whereby longitudinal adjustment of said shaft selectively brings said end to bear against either of said cam portions alone, or both portions simultaneously.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 in which said cam follower end is generally conical in shape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2474945A
Cited
FR1100670A
Cited
US3045503A
Cited
GB1004031A
Cited
US3120595A
Cited
US3252345A
Cited
US3303298A
Cited
US3546954A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |