US3770926A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Selector switch actuator with part of detent means integral with actuator cam
Assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
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Filing: 1972-07-27
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A rotor of a switch actuator includes a selector cam having a serrated cam surface which mates with the serrated cam surface on a selector cam follower. The selector cam follower is slidably retained within an actuator sleeve which surrounds the rotor and the cam follower is forced into mating engagement with the selector cam by a bias spring. The force of the spring is translated by the serrated cam surfaces into a torque which provides a snap-action when the rotor is rotated between its selectable positions.
Inventors
- 👤 V Wanner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H21/00; H01H21/02; H01H21/18; H01H21/36; H01H21/50; H01H19/00; H01H19/54; H01H19/60; H01H19/635; H01H19/6355; H01H15/00; H01H15/02; H01H15/06; H01H15/10; H01H15/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
In a selector switch having a contact section adapted for operation by a rotatable actuator cam, a switch actuator comprising: an actuator sleeve connected to said contact section and having a central opening concentric about an actuator axis; a rotor journaled within the central opening of the actuator sleeve for rotation therein about the actuator axis, said actuator cam being integrally formed on the back end of said rotor; a selector cam integrally formed on said rotor around its outer surface and axially forward of said actuator cam, said selector cam forming a first serrated cam surface which is directed along said central axis; a selector cam follower connected within the central opening of the actuator sleeve for sliding motion along said central axis, Said selector cam follower being disposed around said rotor and providing a second serrated cam surface which is directed along said central axis and opposes said first serrated cam surface; and a bias spring contained within the central opening of the actuator sleeve and disposed around the rotor, said bias spring being disposed between a thrust surface formed on said actuator sleeve and said selector cam follower to provide an axially directed bias force which slides the selector cam follower into engagement with said selector cam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a selector switch having a contact section adapted for operation by a rotatable actuator cam, a switch actuator comprising: an actuator sleeve connected to said contact section and having a central opening concentric about an actuator axis; a rotor journaled within the central opening of the actuator sleeve for rotation therein about the actuator axis, said actuator cam being integrally formed on the back end of said rotor; a selector cam integrally formed on said rotor around its outer surface and axially forward of said actuator cam, said selector cam forming a first serrated cam surface which is directed along said central axis; a selector cam follower connected within the central opening of the actuator sleeve for sliding motion along said central axis, Said selector cam follower being disposed around said rotor and providing a second serrated cam surface which is directed along said central axis and opposes said first serrated cam surface; and a bias spring contained within the central opening of the actuator sleeve and disposed around the rotor, said bias spring being disposed between a thrust surface formed on said actuator sleeve and said selector cam follower to provide an axially directed bias force which slides the selector cam follower into engagement with said selector cam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a selector switch having a contact section adapted for operation by a rotatable actuator cam, a switch actuator comprising: an actuator sleeve having a central opening concentric about an actuator axis; a rotor journaled within the central opening of the actuator sleeve for rotation therein about the actuator axis, said rotor being rigidly connected to the actuator cam; a selector cam rigidly connected to the rotor and disposed around its outer surface to provide a first cam surface which is directed along the actuator axis; a selector cam follower slidably connected within the central opening of the actuator sleeve and disposed around the outer surface of the rotor to provide a second cam surface which faces said first cam surface, said selector cam follower being restrained from rotating about said actuator axis; and a bias spring contained within the central opening of the actuator sleeve and disposed around the rotor to provide a bias force which acts in the direction of the actuator axis to slide the selector cam follower into engagement with the selector cam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a selector switch having a contact section adapted for operation by a rotatable actuator cam, a switch actuator comprising: an actuator sleeve having a central opening concentric about an actuator axis; a rotor journaled within the central opening of the actuator sleeve for rotation therein about the actuator axis, said rotor being rigidly connected to the actuator cam; a selector cam rigidly connected to the rotor and disposed around its outer surface to provide a first cam surface which is directed along the actuator axis; a selector cam follower slidably connected within the central opening of the actuator sleeve and disposed around the outer surface of the rotor to provide a second cam surface which faces said first cam surface, said selector cam follower being restrained from rotating about said actuator axis; and a bias spring contained within the central opening of the actuator sleeve and disposed around the rotor to provide a bias force which acts in the direction of the actuator axis to slide the selector cam follower into engagement with the selector cam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The actuator of claim 1 wherein the first cam surface is serrated to provide a plurality of selectable positions and to provide a plurality of angulated surfaces against which the selector cam follower bears when the rotor is rotated between selectable positions, said angulated surfaces operating to translate the spring bias force into a torque which tends to rotate the rotor into one of its selectable positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The actuator as recited in claim 1 wherein the second cam surface is serrated to provide a plurality of selectable positions and to provide a plurality of angulated surfaces against which the selector cam bears when the rotor is rotated between selectable positions and a key is formed on the selector cam follower which engages a keyway formed on the interior surface of said actuator sleeve to prevent rotation of the selector cam follower about said actuator axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The actuator of claim 1 in which said rotor includes a stem portion which extends forward through said central opening to attach with a knob, and in which said selector cam follower and said bias spring surround said stem portion and are contained within a cavity defined by the outer surface of said stem portion and the inner surface of said actuator sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The actuator of claim 5 in which a thrust surface is formed at the forward end of said cavity by a constriction in said actuator sleeve, and said bias spring is positioned between said thrust surface and said selector cam follower.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The actuator of claim 6 in which a pair of keyways are formed in the axial direction on the inner surface of said actuator sleeve and a pair of keys are formed on said selector cam follower which extend radially outward into said keyways to restrain said selector cam follower from rotating about said actuator axis, but to allow a sliding motion along said actuator axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The actuator of claim 5 in which an opening is formed in said rotor stem and a retaining surface is formed by a constriction in this opening near its forward end, and in which said knob includes a pair of arms which extend into said opening in said rotor stem and into engagement with said retaining surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The actuator of claim 1 which includes: an actuator frame connected to said actuator sleeve and said contact section; and a retainer flange connected to said rotor and extending radially outward therefRom, wherein a recess is formed in the front surface of said actuator frame to receive said retainer flange and an opening is formed in said actuator frame through which the actuator cam communicates with the contact section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The actuator of claim 9 in which said actuator cam is disposed axially to the rear of said retainer flange, said selector cam is disposed axially forward of said retainer flange, and said actuator sleeve includes a bearing plate disposed axially forward of said actuator frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |