US3789171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure switch with operating lever having manually adjustable pre-loading means therefore
Assignee: Actuated Controls Ltd
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Filing: 1972-08-22
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-08-22
Abstract
Abstract An improved pressure switch unit according to this invention has a movable diaphragm which is connected to a switch within a casing by a lever which has a resilient connection to a mounting element for the switch, so that pressure overloading of the diaphragm is accommodated by the resilient connection, avoiding undue stress on the switch itself or its operating lever. The switch unit is readily adaptable for use in low and high pressure ranges by using the switch mounting element either as a fixed mounting, with adjustment means acting directly on the diaphragm, or as a floating mounting which is positionally adjustable to adjust the sensitive pressure range of the unit.
Inventors
- 👤 G Kent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:08
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15B; F15B15/00; F15B15/08; F15B15/10; F15B5/00; H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/24; H01H35/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A pressure sensitive switch unit having a casing, a flexible diaphragm located within the casing and defining therewith a chamber to which a pressure is applied in use of the unit, and a switch operating lever connected to the diaphragm within the casing, wherein the improvement comprises: a mounting element upon which a switch is mounted; resilient connection means connecting said operating lever to said mounting element, said operating lever engaging an actuating element of the switch at a position spaced from the connections of the operating lever to the diaphragm and to the mounting element, whereby, upon loading of said switch actuating element by the diaphragm beyond a given limit said lever rocks about said switch actuating element, such rocking movement being accommodated by the said resilient connection means to the switch mounting element, and adjustable pre-loading means acting on said diaphragm to predetermine the pressure in the chamber at which the switch is operated, said adjustable pre-loading means comprising a spring bearing upon the diaphragm at its connection to the switch operating lever, on the side of the diaphragm externally of the chamber, and a manually operable control member acting on said spring for adjustment of the loading thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A pressure sensitive switch unit having a casing, a flexible diaphragm located within the casing and defining therewith a chamber to which a pressure is applied in use of the unit, and a switch operating lever connected to the diaphragm within the casing, wherein the improvement comprises: a mounting element upon which a switch is mounted; resilient connection means connecting said operating lever to said mounting element, said operating lever engaging an actuating element of the switch at a position spaced from the connections of the operating lever to the diaphragm and to the mounting element, whereby, upon loading of said switch actuating element by the diaphragm beyond a given limit said lever rocks about said switch actuating element, such rocking movement being accommodated by the said resilient connection means to the switch mounting element, and adjustable pre-loading means acting on said diaphragm to predetermine the pressure in the chamber at which the switch is operated, said adjustable pre-loading means comprising a spring bearing upon the diaphragm at its connection to the switch operating lever, on the side of the diaphragm externally of the chamber, and a manually operable control member acting on said spring for adjustment of the loading thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Switch unit according to claim 1, wherein said resilient connection means between the lever and the switch mounting element comprises at least one spring interposed between said lever and said mounting element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A switch unit according to claim 1, wherein the control member comprises a rotatable knob provided with a cam surface, and a cam follower against which one end of the spring bears, urging said cam follower into engagement with said cam surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A switch unit according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm comprises a flexible non-metallic element, the switch operating lever being pivotably connected to the diaphragm at the center of the latter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switch unit according to claim 4, including a rigid plate attached to said diaphragm at the center of the latter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch unit according to claim 1, including means fixing said switch mounting element within the casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A switch unit according to claim 1, including means mounting said switch mounting element within said casing, said mounting means permitting adjustment of the position of the mounting element relative to the diaphragm, and further including adjustment means for effecting such adjustment to predetermine the pressure in the chamber at which the switch is operated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A switch unit according to claim 7, wherein said adjustment means comprise a manually adjustable screw acting on the switch mounting element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch unit according to claim 7, wherein the diaphragm is fabricated in resilient sheet metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A switch unit according to claim 1, wherein the switch mounting eleMent comprises a plate and the switch operating lever has two said resilient connection means connecting said lever to the switch mounting plate at spaced apart positions defining the pivot axis of the operating lever below the loading limit of the switch actuating element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A switch unit according to claim 10 wherein the switch operating lever has the shape of an isosceles triangle with said two resilient connection means disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of an axis of symmetry passing through the connection of the lever to the diaphragm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
170 words
In a pressure sensitive switch unit having a casing, and a flexible diaphragm located within the casing and defining a chamber to which a pressure is applied in use of the unit, the improvement which consists in: a. a mounting element within said casing; b. a switch carried by said mounting element, said switch having a movable actuating element; c. a switch operating lever connected to said diaphragm acting upon said switch actuating element; d. said mounting element having means for mounting it in said casing selectively in a first position as a fixed switch mounting and in a second position as a positionally adjustable switch mounting, and e. adjusting means acting upon said diaphragm directly in said first position of the mounting element and acting upon said switch mounting element to adjust the position thereof in said second position of the mounting element, the setting of said adjusting means, in both said positions, predetermining the pressure in said chamber at which the switch is operated by the operating lever.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
In a pressure sensitive switch unit having a casing, and a flexible diaphragm located within the casing and defining a chamber to which a pressure is applied in use of the unit, the improvement which consists in: a. a mounting element within said casing; b. a switch carried by said mounting element, said switch having a movable actuating element; c. a switch operating lever connected to said diaphragm acting upon said switch actuating element; d. said mounting element having means for mounting it in said casing selectively in a first position as a fixed switch mounting and in a second position as a positionally adjustable switch mounting, and e. adjusting means acting upon said diaphragm directly in said first position of the mounting element and acting upon said switch mounting element to adjust the position thereof in said second position of the mounting element, the setting of said adjusting means, in both said positions, predetermining the pressure in said chamber at which the switch is operated by the operating lever.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
Switch unit according to claim 12, wherein said adjusting means includes a rotatable knob, resilient reaction means, and a cam element connected to said knob for adjusting the pre-loading of said diaphragm by said resilient reaction means in the first position of the switch mounting element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
Switch unit according to claim 12, wherein said adjusting means includes a screw element and a knob connected to said screw element to adjust the position of said switch mounting element relative to the diaphragm in the second position of the mounting element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
Switch unit according to claim 12, wherein said switch mounting element comprises a plate having two parallel flat portions disposed in different planes and a step portion interconnected in said flat portions, the switch being mounted on one of the flat portions, and the other flat portion being rigidly fixed relative to the casing in the first position of the switch mounting element and being positionally adjustable within the casing in the second position of the said mounting element, said two positions of the mounting plate being inverted relatively to each other.
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) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |