Rotary actuator for a switch

Claim 2

In a compact variable speed electrical control switch comprising spaced stationary contact means and movable bridging contact means adapted to move relative to said stationary contact means, with the bridging contact means being movable from an off position wherein the bridging contact means is spaced from at least one of the stationary contact means to an on position wherein the bridging contact means engages the stationary contact means in electrically conducting relation, and vice versa, actuator means for selectively moving said bridging contact means, said actuator means comprising a rotatable member, another member operatively coupled to said rotatable member for generally linear movement upon rotary movement of said rotatable member, and said other member coacting with said bridging contact means for moving the latter to and from said on position upon predetermined rotary movement of said rotatable member, and including speed control means in circuit with said stationary contact means and being operatively connected to said actuator means for actuation by the latter during rotary movement of said rotatable member.

Claim 3

A switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein said other member comprises a carrier mounting said bridging contact means thereon, said carrier being adapted for generally linear movement with respect to said stationary contact means, and said rotatable member having means thereon coacting with means on said carrier for moving said carrier generally linearly during rotary movement of said rotatable member.

Claim 4

A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said carrier comprises a recess therein, resilient means disposed in said recess and coacting with the respective bridging contact means received in said recess for urging the respective bridging contact means outwardly toward engagement with the respective stationary contact means.

Claim 5

In a compact electrical control switch comprising spaced stationary contact means and movable bridging contact means adapted to move relative to said stationary contact means, with the bridging contact means being movable from an off position wherein the bridging contact means is spaced from at least one of the stationary contact means to an on position wherein the bridging contact means engages the stationary contact means in electrically conducting relation, and vice versa, actuator means for selectively moving said bridging contact means, said actuator means comprising a rotatable member, another member operatively coupled to said rotatable member for generally linear movement upon rotary movement of said rotatable member, and said other member coacting with said bridging contact means for moving the latter to and from said on position upon predetermined rotary movement of said rotatable member, and wherein said rotatable member comprises a rotary worm and said other member comprises a carrier mounting said bridging contact means thereon, and means on said carrier coacting with said rotary worm for moving said carrier generally linearly and thus moving said bridging contact means relative to said stationary contact means during rotation of said worm.

Claim 6

In a compact electrical control switch comprising spaced stationary contact means and movable bridging contact means adapted to move relative to said stationary contact means, with the bridging contact means being movable from an off position wherein the bridging contact means is spaced from at least one of the stationary contact means to an on position wherein the bridging contact means engages the stationary contact means in electrically conducting relation, and vice versa, actuator means for selectively moving said bridging contact means, said actuator means comprising a rotatable member, another member operatively coupled to said rotatable member for generally linear movement upon rotary movement of said rotatable member, and said other member coacting with said bridging contact means for moving the latter to and from said on position upon predetermined rotary movement of said rotatable member, and wherein said rotatable member comprises a rotary worm and said other member comprises a carrier mounting said bridging contact means thereon, and means on said carrier coacting with said rotary worm for moving said carrier generally linearly and thus moving said bridging contact means relative to said stationary contact means during rotation of said worm.

Claim 7

In a compact electrical control switch comprising spaced stationary contact means and movable bridging contact means adapted to move relative to said stationary contact means, with the bridging contact means being movable from an off position wherein the bridging contact means is spaced from at least one of the stationary contact means to an on position wherein the bridging contact means engages the stationary contact means in electrically conducting relation, and vice versa, actuator means for selectively moving said bridging contact means, said actuator means comprising a rotatable member, another member operatively coupled to said rotatable member for generally linear movement upon rotary movement of said rotatable member, and said other member coacting with said brIdging contact means for moving the latter to and from said on position upon predetermined rotary movement of said rotatable member, and wherein said switch is a speed control type switch including rheostat means in circuit with said stationary contact means and being operatively connected to said actuator means for actuation by the latter during rotary movement of said rotatable member.

Claim 8

In a compact electrical control switch comprising spaced stationary contact means and movable bridging contact means adapted to move relative to said stationary contact means, with the bridging contact means being movable from an off position wherein the bridging contact means is spaced from at least one of the stationary contact means to an on position wherein the bridging contact means engages the stationary contact means in electrically conducting relation, and vice versa, actuator means for selectively moving said bridging contact means, said actuator means comprising a rotatable member, another member operatively coupled to said rotatable member for generally linear movement upon rotary movement of said rotatable member, and said other member coacting with said brIdging contact means for moving the latter to and from said on position upon predetermined rotary movement of said rotatable member, and wherein said switch is a speed control type switch including rheostat means in circuit with said stationary contact means and being operatively connected to said actuator means for actuation by the latter during rotary movement of said rotatable member.

Claim 9

A switch in accordance with claim 5 wherein said other member mounts said bridging contact means and is coupled to said rheostat means to cause generally linear movement of said bridging contact means and said rheostat means during rotary movement of said rotatable member.

Claim 10

A switch in accordance with claim 5 wherein said rotatable member comprises a wheel-like knob.

Claim 11

A switch in accordance with claim 5 wherein said rotatable member comprises a worm.

Claim 12

A switch in accordance with claim 5 wherein said stationary contact means comprises a group of at least three contact elements in generally longitudinally spaced relationship to one another, said bridging contact means being engageable in electrically conducting relation with two of said three contact elements in said on position.

Claim 13

A switch in accordance with claim 9 including two spaced groups of stationary contact means, one of said groups comprising said three contact elements and the other of said groups comprising a pair of stationary contact elements, said bridging contact means comprising a pair of spaced bridging contact members each being movable with respect to a respective one of said groups of stationary contact means, said other member having spaced recesses therein mounting said bridging contact members.

Claim 14

A switch in accordance with claim 5 wherein said rheostat means comprises a resistance strip and an electrically conductive slide contactor slidable relative to said resistance strip, said contactor having means thereon mechanically coupling said contactor to said other member for actuation of said contactor during actuation of said rotatable member.

Claim 15

A switch in accordance with claim 11 including a switch case in which said rheostat means is disposed and wherein said slide contactor is adapted to move generally linearly along said resistance strip, said means on said contactor comprising an upstanding tab projecting through a slot in said switch case and coacting in interlocked relation with said other member for causing said generally linear movement of said slide contactor during rotary movement of said rotatable member, said rotatable member having a rotary drive thereon coacting with a trackway means on said other member, said switch having a housing defining an elongated chamber in which said other member is disposed for movement generally lengthwise of said chamber, said coaction between said rotary drive and said trackway means on said other member causing said lengthwise movement of said other member and said linear movement of said contactor during rotary movement of said rotatable member.

Claim 16

A switch in accordance with claim 12 wherein said rotary drive comprises a toothed rotary wheel, said trackway means on said other member extending in a direction generally lengthwise of said other member and comprising a rack-like section so that upon rotary movement of said wheel said other member is caused to move linearly in said chamber.

Claim 17

A switch in accordance with claim 5 including a switch housing having a recess therein, a separable switch case mounting certain of the switch components including said rheostat means and said stationary contact means, said recess receiving therein said switch case and assembled switch components, said other member being movably disposed in said housing and mounting said bridging contact means in said housing in movable relation thereto and in generally confronting relation to said stationary contact means, said housing mounting said rotatable member thereon.

Claim 18

A switch in accordance with claim 14 wherein said rotatable member comprIses a rotary worm having a threaded-like worm portion and a shank portion extending axially from said worm portion, said shank portion projecting outwardly of said housing, and means on said housing coacting with said worm for releasably positioning said rotatable member in predetermined rotational relationship with respect to said housing so as to position said other member in predetermined relation with respect to said stationary contact means.

Claim 19

A switch in accordance with claim 15 wherein the last mentioned means on said housing comprises a resilient detent extending into engagement with said shank portion of said worm, and means on said shank portion adapted for releasable holding coaction with said detent means, for releasably positioning said rotatable member and said other member with respect to said stationary contact means.

Claim 20

A switch in accordance with claim 15 wherein said other member comprises a projection thereon extending into coaction with said worm portion for causing generally linear movement of said other member in said housing upon rotary movement of said worm.

Claim 21

A switch in accordance with claim 5 including a switch housing having a recess therein receiving a switch case and assembled switch components therein, said switch components including said rheostat means and said stationary contact means, said housing mounting said rotatable member thereon and having an opening therein, said rotatable member having an axle thereon rotatably projecting through said opening with means adjacent the inner end thereof disposed in driving coaction with said other member for moving the latter linearly during rotary movement of said rotatable member.