Multiturn rotary switch

Claim 2

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame and concentric with said shaft means, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means at only one predetermined angular position of said shaft means, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means at said predetermined position.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including detent means carried by the shaft means and positioned to cooperate with means on the frame for positioning the shaft at any one of a predetermined number of angular locations.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that said detent means on the shaft is effective at all axial positions of the shaft.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the means on the frame cooperating with the detent means on the shaft includes a plurality of rollers positioned to be in contact with said detent means, and spring means biasing said rollers toward said shaft means.

Claim 6

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means, and spring means normally biasing said shaft means toward a position in which one of said rotatable elements is coupled to the shaft means.

Claim 7

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means, and spring means normally biasing said shaft means toward a position in which one of said rotatable elements is coupled to the shaft means.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that said shaft means is movable, against the biasing force of the spring means, to a position such that the shaft means is uncoupled from said one rotatable element and is coupled to a second rotatable element.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 6 further characterized by and including a latch for holding said shaft means in a coupled position with said second rotatable element.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that said latch is manually axially movable.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that said shaft means is axially movable from a position in which it is coupled with said one rotatable element to a position in which it is coupled with said second rotatable element at a predetermined angular position of said shaft means.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that said shaft means is uncoupled and coupled to said rotatable element at a predetermined angular position thereof.

Claim 13

The structure of claim further characterized in that said latch is axially movable only at said predetermined angular position.

Claim 14

The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that said latch includes a pin extending outwardly from said shaft means and a plate attached to the frame, a slot in said plate, said pin being of the size and shape to pass through said slot, positioning of said pin on one side of said plate positions the shaft means for coupling with one of said rotatable elements, positioning of the piN on the opposite side of the plate positions the shaft means for coupling with another of said rotatable elements.

Claim 15

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame and concentric with said shaft means, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, including a collar on said shaft means positioned between a pair of rotatable elements, said collar and rotatable elements having mating clutch surfaces, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 16

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame and concentric with said shaft means, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, including a collar on said shaft means positioned between a pair of rotatable elements, said collar and rotatable elements having mating clutch surfaces, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 17

The structure of claim 13 further characterized in that there are two switch sections, said collar being positioned between said switch sections and arranged to be coupled to either one of said rotatable elements.

Claim 18

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, said shaft means including a threaded collar, threaded means on said frame in engagement with said threaded collar, rotation of said shaft means causing the threaded means on the frame and said threaded collar to shift said shaft means axially relative to said rotatable elements to couple and uncouple said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 19

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, said shaft means including a threaded collar, threaded means on said frame in engagement with said threaded collar, rotation of said shaft means causing the threaded means on the frame and said threaded collar to shift said shaft means axially relative to said rotatable elements to couple and uncouple said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 20

The structure of claim 15 further characterized in that said shaft means is uncoupled from one of said rotatable members and coupled to another of said rotatable members as said shaft passes through a given angular area of rotation.

Claim 21

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, said shaft means including an axially movable collar, spring means biasing said collar in one direction, detent means effective between said collar and one of said rotatable elements, said spring means biasing said collar and detent means into a position such that rotation of said shaft means moves said one rotatable element, and second detent means positioned to engage said collar with another of said rotatable elements, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 22

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, said shaft means including an axially movable collar, spring means biasing said collar in one direction, detent means effective between said collar and one of said rotatable elements, said spring means biasing said collar and detent means into a position such that rotation of said shaft means moves said one rotatable element, and second detent means positioned to engage said collar with another of said rotatable elements, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 23

The structure of claim 17 further characterized in that movement of said shaft means to a predetermined angular position releases said first detent member.

Claim 24

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, said shaft means including an axially slidable cam shaft, a cam follower positioned on said frame, rotation of said cam being effective to shift a portion of said shaft means to couple and uncouple said rotatable elements.

Claim 25

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, said shaft means including an axially slidable cam shaft, a cam follower positioned on said frame, rotation of said cam being effective to shift a portion of said shaft means to couple and uncouple said rotatable elements.

Claim 26

The structure of claim 19 further characterized in that said cooperating means form a portion of said cam.

Claim 27

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame and concentric with said shaft means, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for Coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, including a spring-biased pin positioned within said shaft means, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 28

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame and concentric with said shaft means, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for Coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith, including a spring-biased pin positioned within said shaft means, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 29

The structure of claim 21 further characterized in that said spring-biased pin has a projection extending outwardly from said shaft and positioned for engagement with said rotatable elements.

Claim 30

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements and said shaft means for rotation therewith, said shaft means including a shaft and a movable cam on said shaft, a cam follower attached to said frame and positioned for movement in said cam, rotation of said shaft axially shifting a portion of said shaft means to couple and uncouple said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 31

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements and said shaft means for rotation therewith, said shaft means including a shaft and a movable cam on said shaft, a cam follower attached to said frame and positioned for movement in said cam, rotation of said shaft axially shifting a portion of said shaft means to couple and uncouple said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 32

The structure of claim 23 further characterized by and including a keyway in said shaft and a movalbe key positioned in said keyway, with portions of said key being positioned for engagement with said rotatable elements.

Claim 33

The structure of claim 24 further characterized by and including spring means effective between said key and shaft.

Claim 34

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith including a plunger movable within said shaft means, a spring positioned by said plunger and arranged to cooperate with said rotatable elements, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 35

A rotary switch including a frame, shaft means mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of insulative planar switch sections mounted to said frame, each switch section including a rotatable switching element, cooperating means on each rotatable element and said shaft means for coupling each of said rotatable elements to said shaft means for rotation therewith including a plunger movable within said shaft means, a spring positioned by said plunger and arranged to cooperate with said rotatable elements, axial movement of at least a portion of said shaft means relative to said rotatable elements coupling and uncoupling said rotatable elements to said shaft means.

Claim 36

The structure of claim 26 further characterized in that said plunger is threadedly engaged with said shaft means, such that rotation of said shaft means is effective to axially move said plunger, movement of said plunger being effective to shift said spring from one rotatable element to another.