Actuator means for a switch construction and the like

Claim 2

An actuator for a switch construction comprising a housing having an opening, an actuator shaft rotatably carried by said housing and having cam means thereon, and an axially movable plunger carried by said housing and having abutment means thereon cooperable with said cam means, said plunger having a portion thereof projecting out of said opening and another portion thereof larger than sAid opening and disposed in said housing whereby said plunger cannot be removed from said housing through said opening, said plunger being settable to a plurality of positions relative to said housing while said other portion of said plunger is disposed in said housing so that said abutment means cooperate with said cam means in selected manners whereby said shaft must be rotated in the selected direction to having said cam means thereof cam said abutment means and thereby cause axial movement of said plunger.

Claim 3

An actuator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger is rotated relative to said housing to be set in said selected positions thereof.

Claim 4

An actuator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plunger has opposed ends, one of said ends having said abutment means thereon.

Claim 5

An actuator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said abutment means comprises a plurality of abutments projecting from said one end of said plunger.

Claim 6

An actuator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said abutments are disposed in circular array.

Claim 7

An actuator as set forth in claim 5 wherein said abutments comprise three abutments respectively disposed at three corners of a square described by said circular arrangement.

Claim 8

An actuator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam means comprise two cams carried by said shaft.

Claim 9

An actuator as set forth in claim 7 wherein said cams are like cams and are carried on said shaft in reversed relation relative to each other.

Claim 10

An actuator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has stop means for limiting rotational movement of said shaft in each direction of rotational movement thereof.

Claim 11

An actuator as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cam means of said shaft abut said stop means to determine the limits of rotational movement of said shaft.

Claim 12

In combination, a switch construction having an operator therefor, an actuator for said switch construction and comprising a housing detachably interconnected to said switch construction and having an opening facing said switch construction, an actuator shaft rotatably carried by said housing and having cam means thereon, and an axially movable plunger carried by said housing and having abutment means thereon cooperable with said cam means, said plunger having a portion thereof projecting out of said opening and another portion thereof larger than said opening and disposed in said housing whereby said plunger cannot be removed from said housing through said opening, said plunger being associated with said operator to actuate the same when said plunger is moved to a certain axial position thereof, said plunger being settable to a plurality of positions relative to said housing while said other portion of said plunger is disposed in said housing so that said abutment means cooperate with said cam means in selected manners whereby said shaft must be rotated in the selected direction to having said cam means thereof cam said abutment means and thereby cause said axial movement of said plunger to said certain axial position thereof.

Claim 13

In combination, a switch construction having an operator therefor, an actuator for said switch construction and comprising a housing detachably interconnected to said switch construction and having an opening facing said switch construction, an actuator shaft rotatably carried by said housing and having cam means thereon, and an axially movable plunger carried by said housing and having abutment means thereon cooperable with said cam means, said plunger having a portion thereof projecting out of said opening and another portion thereof larger than said opening and disposed in said housing whereby said plunger cannot be removed from said housing through said opening, said plunger being associated with said operator to actuate the same when said plunger is moved to a certain axial position thereof, said plunger being settable to a plurality of positions relative to said housing while said other portion of said plunger is disposed in said housing so that said abutment means cooperate with said cam means in selected manners whereby said shaft must be rotated in the selected direction to having said cam means thereof cam said abutment means and thereby cause said axial movement of said plunger to said certain axial position thereof.

Claim 14

A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said plunger is adapted to be rotated relative to said housing to be set in said selected positions thereof.

Claim 15

A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said plunger has opposed ends, one of said ends having said abutment means thereon.

Claim 16

A combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said abutment means comprises a plurality of abutments projecting from said one end of said plunger.

Claim 17

A combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said abutments are disposed in circular array.

Claim 18

A combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said abutments comprise three abutments respectively disposed at three corners of a square described by said curcular arrangement.

Claim 19

A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cam means comprise two cams carried by said shaft.

Claim 20

A combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said cams are like cams and are carried on said shaft in reversed relation relAtive to each other.

Claim 21

A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing has stop means for limiting rotational movement of said shaft in each direction of rotational movement thereof.

Claim 22

A combination as set forth in claim 19 wherein said cam means of said shaft abut said stop means to determine the limits of rotational movement of said shaft.

Claim 23

A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said plunger is adapted to be rotated relative to said housing to be set in said selected positions thereof only when said housing is detached from said switch construction.

Claim 24

A combination as set forth in claim 21 wherein said switch construction has an opening for receiving part of said plunger when said housing is being interconnected to said switch construction, said opening and said part of said plunger cooperating together to prevent rotational movement of said plunger.