Panel display switch

Claim 2

An electrical switch, comprising: a front face plate; a knob, mounted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to said front face plate; a first shaft, mounted to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said knob; means connected between said knob and said first shaft for rotating said first shaft in response to rotation of said knob at a rate greater than the rate of rotation of said knob; a first switch assembly, driven by said first shaft to make and break first electrical contacts; a second shaft, removably mounted to rotate in response to rotation of said first shaft; and a second switch assembly, driven by said second shaft to make and break second electrical contacts.

Claim 3

An electrical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said means connected between said knob and said first shaft for rotating said first shaft in response to rotation of said knob at a rate greater than the rate of rotation of said knob comprises: a third shaft rigidly connected to said knob and mounted to rotate about the axis of rotation of said knob; a first gear rigidly attached to said third shaft; and a second gear rigidly attached to said first shaft, said second gear positioned to mesh with said first gear, said second gear having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first gear.

Claim 4

An electrical switch as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising: a first sealed housing surrounding said first shaft and said first switch assembly; and a second sealed housing independent of said first sealed housing surrounding said second shaft and said second switch assembly.

Claim 5

An electrical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said front face plate includes an aperture, additionally comprising: a switch position indicator rigidly attached to said first shaft and positioned adjacent said front face plate aperture.

Claim 6

An electrical switch as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising: means for removably connecting one end of said first shaft to one end of said second shaft, said means permitting connection in only one rotational position.

Claim 7

An electrical switch as deFined in claim 5 wherein said removably connecting means comprises a key on one of said first and second shafts and a slot on the other of said first and second shafts.

Claim 8

An electrical switch comprising: a primary switch assembly housing having front and rear faces, said primary switch assembly housing independently sealed to exclude foreign matter; a primary switch assembly mounted within said primary switch assembly housing; a knob protruding from said front face for manipulation of said primary switch assembly; a selectable plurality of additional switch assembly housings mounted on said rear face of said primary switch assembly housing, each of said additional switch assembly housings independently sealed to exclude foreign matter; an additional switch assembly in each of said additional switch assembly housings; and means for actuating said additional switch assembly in response to said manipulation of said knob.

Claim 9

An electrical switch comprising: a primary switch assembly housing having front and rear faces, said primary switch assembly housing independently sealed to exclude foreign matter; a primary switch assembly mounted within said primary switch assembly housing; a knob protruding from said front face for manipulation of said primary switch assembly; a selectable plurality of additional switch assembly housings mounted on said rear face of said primary switch assembly housing, each of said additional switch assembly housings independently sealed to exclude foreign matter; an additional switch assembly in each of said additional switch assembly housings; and means for actuating said additional switch assembly in response to said manipulation of said knob.

Claim 10

An electrical switch as defined in claim 7 and additionally comprising: means connected between said knob and said primary switch assembly for rotationally driving said switch assemblies in response to rotation of said knob and at a rate higher than the rate of rotation of said knob.

Claim 11

An electrical switch as defined in claim 8 wherein said means connected between said knob and said primary switch assembly for rotationally driving said switch assemblies in response to rotation of said knob and at a rate higher than the rate of rotation of said knob comprises: a first gear rigidly attached to said knob; and a second gear meshing with said first gear, said second gear having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first gear, said second gear attached to said switch assemblies.

Claim 12

An electrical switch assembly, comprising: a front face plate, being integrally connected to said switch assembly and including an aperture for displaying the position of said switch; transparent means for closing and sealing said aperture; a rotatable knob projecting from said face plate, said knob rotating about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said front face plate; a first shaft projecting from the rear of said face plate, the axis of said shaft substantially parallel to the axis of said knob; a second shaft, coaxial with said first shaft, one end of said second shaft removably keyed to one end of said first shaft to rotate therewith; an indicator disc rotatably mounted on said first shaft and located adjacent said aperture for indicating the position of said switch assembly as said first shaft is rotated; and an electrical switch driven by said second shaft to make and break electrical contacts.

Claim 13

An electrical switch assembly, comprising: a front face plate, being integrally connected to said switch assembly and including an aperture for displaying the position of said switch; transparent means for closing and sealing said aperture; a rotatable knob projecting from said face plate, said knob rotating about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said front face plate; a first shaft projecting from the rear of said face plate, the axis of said shaft substantially parallel to the axis of said knob; a second shaft, coaxial with said first shaft, one end of said second shaft removably keyed to one end of said first shaft to rotate therewith; an indicator disc rotatably mounted on said first shaft and located adjacent said aperture for indicating the position of said switch assembly as said first shaft is rotated; and an electrical switch driven by said second shaft to make and break electrical contacts.

Claim 14

An electrical switch assembly as defined in claim 10 and additionally comprising: means connected between said knob and said first shaft for rotating said first shaft and said second shaft in response to rotation of said knob at a rate greater than the rotation of said knob.

Claim 15

An electrical switch assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said first shaft and said second shaft in response to rotation of said knob at a rate greater than the rotation of said knob comprises: a third shaft rigidly connected to said knob and mounted to rotate about the axis of rotation of said knob; a first gear rigidly attached to said third shaft; and a second gear rigidly attached to said first shaft, said second gear positioned to mesh with said first gear, said second gear having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first gear.

Claim 16

An electrical switch assembly as defined in claim 10 additionally comprising: a first sealed housing surrounding said first shaft; and a second sealed housing independent of said first sealed housing surrounding said second shaft and said electrical switch.

Claim 17

An electrical switch assembly as defined in claim 10 and additionally comprising means for prohibiting keying of said second shaft To said first shaft unless the rotative position of said second shaft is properly aligned with said indicator disc.

Claim 18

A rotary electrical switch comprising: a sealed housing having a front face plate including a switch position indicator and a rear face plate; a driving shaft mounted to rotate on said housing about an axis perpendicular to said front face plate; a driven shaft mounted to rotate on said housing, the axis of said driven shaft substantially parallel to the axis of said driving shaft; means connected between said driving shaft and said driven shaft for rotating said driven shaft in response to rotation of said driving shaft at a rate greater than the rotation of said knob; and an independently sealed electric switch assembly, removably mounted on said rear face plate, said switch assembly driven by said driven shaft.

Claim 19

A rotary electrical switch comprising: a sealed housing having a front face plate including a switch position indicator and a rear face plate; a driving shaft mounted to rotate on said housing about an axis perpendicular to said front face plate; a driven shaft mounted to rotate on said housing, the axis of said driven shaft substantially parallel to the axis of said driving shaft; means connected between said driving shaft and said driven shaft for rotating said driven shaft in response to rotation of said driving shaft at a rate greater than the rotation of said knob; and an independently sealed electric switch assembly, removably mounted on said rear face plate, said switch assembly driven by said driven shaft.

Claim 20

A rotary electrical switch as defined in claim 15 wherein said means connected between said driving shaft and said driven shaft for rotating said driven shaft in response to rotation of said driving shaft at a rate greater than the rotation of said knob comprises a driving gear rigidly attached to said driving shaft and a driven gear rigidly attached to said driven shaft, said driven gear positioned to mesh with said driving gear and having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said driving gear.

Claim 21

A rotary electrical switch comprising: a housing having a front face plate; a knob, protruding from said front face plate, mounted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to said front face plate; a driving shaft rigidly mounted to said knob and journaled to rotate within said housing, the axis of said driving shaft being substantially perpendicular to said front face plate; a driving gear rigidly mounted on said driving shaft; a driven shaft journaled to rotate within said housing, the axis of said driven shaft being substantially parallel to the axis of said driving shaft; a driven gear rigidly mounted to said driven shaft and positioned to mesh with said driving gear, said driven gear having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said driving gear; a switch position indicator mounted on said driven shaft; a detent cylinder rigidly mounted on said driven shaft for biasing said driven shaft to selected rotational positions; and an electrical switch driven by said driven shaft to make and break electrical contacts.

Claim 22

A rotary electrical switch comprising: a housing having a front face plate; a knob, protruding from said front face plate, mounted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to said front face plate; a driving shaft rigidly mounted to said knob and journaled to rotate within said housing, the axis of said driving shaft being substantially perpendicular to said front face plate; a driving gear rigidly mounted on said driving shaft; a driven shaft journaled to rotate within said housing, the axis of said driven shaft being substantially parallel to the axis of said driving shaft; a driven gear rigidly mounted to said driven shaft and positioned to mesh with said driving gear, said driven gear having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said driving gear; a switch position indicator mounted on said driven shaft; a detent cylinder rigidly mounted on said driven shaft for biasing said driven shaft to selected rotational positions; and an electrical switch driven by said driven shaft to make and break electrical contacts.