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US3793492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Limit switch operating mechanism
Assignee: Cutler Hammer Inc
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Filing: 1973-02-26
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1993-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A limit switch operating head subassembly mountable at its mating surface onto a switch subassembly in any one of a number of different angular positions and may be detached without any parts falling out. The operating head subassembly has an operating arm pivotable in opposite directions for switch actuation. This operating arm is secured to a shaft that operates cams, rockers and slide members to operate an actuating plunger through a presettable mechanism allowing by-pass in one direction. The slide members are internally compression spring biased threaded members allowing stepless length adjustment. The presettable by-pass mechanism has a flanged plunger on a square pin and a notch in the flange to allow presetting the plunger notch at 90* intervals for switch operation in both directions or by-pass in one direction of operating arm movement. The operating shaft has a seal design that enhances sealing effect under fluid pressure and is smaller so as to use less material. An adjustable coupling mechanism transmits the plunger motion to the contact actuator. The stepless length adjustment of the slide members and the adjustment of the coupling mechanism afford adjustment of the plunger motion relative to the mating faces of the operating head and switch subassemblies, respectively, to afford presetting of switch tripping at five degrees of arm movement.
Inventors
- 👤 E Duncan
- 👤 R Pearson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H21/00; H01H21/02; H01H21/18; H01H21/22; H01H21/24; H01H21/28; H01H21/285; H01H2021/287
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A limit switch comprising: a self-enclosed switch subassembly having an open end, and a self-enclosed operating head subassembly having a mating surface secured to said open end to close the latter and provide a limit switch allowing detachment of the operating head without any parts falling out; said switch subassembly comprising an enclosure, switch contacts within said enclosure and switch actuating means within said enclosure and accessible at the open end thereof for actuation by said operating head; and said operating head subassembly comprising: a housing; an external operating arm mounted on said housing and adapted to be moved in opposite directions to operate the switch; a fixed guide pin having a polygonal portion extending in from one end and a round portion extending in from the other end, and means mounting said guide pin at said one end so that its round end extends into the open end of said switch enclosure; a plunger having a bore complementary to said polygonal portion whereby said plunger is non-rotatably slidable on said guide pin to actuate said switch actuating means and said plunger being manually slidable further to said round portion upon removal of said operating head and rotated to another angle to select between bidirectional switch operation and by-pass in one direction; and motion translating means including selective coupling and decoupling means operable when said plunger is positioned on said guide pin at a given angle for rendering said coupling means effective to slide said plunger to cause switch operation when said external operating arm is moved in either direction, and being operable when said plunger is set on said guide pin at a different angle for rendering said coupling means effective to slide said plunger to cause switch operation when said external operating arm is moved in one direction and for renderiNg said de-coupling means effective to clear said plunger to afford by-pass when said external operating arm is moved in the other direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
A limit switch comprising: a self-enclosed switch subassembly having an open end, and a self-enclosed operating head subassembly having a mating surface secured to said open end to close the latter and provide a limit switch allowing detachment of the operating head without any parts falling out; said switch subassembly comprising an enclosure, switch contacts within said enclosure and switch actuating means within said enclosure and accessible at the open end thereof for actuation by said operating head; and said operating head subassembly comprising: a housing; an external operating arm mounted on said housing and adapted to be moved in opposite directions to operate the switch; a fixed guide pin having a polygonal portion extending in from one end and a round portion extending in from the other end, and means mounting said guide pin at said one end so that its round end extends into the open end of said switch enclosure; a plunger having a bore complementary to said polygonal portion whereby said plunger is non-rotatably slidable on said guide pin to actuate said switch actuating means and said plunger being manually slidable further to said round portion upon removal of said operating head and rotated to another angle to select between bidirectional switch operation and by-pass in one direction; and motion translating means including selective coupling and decoupling means operable when said plunger is positioned on said guide pin at a given angle for rendering said coupling means effective to slide said plunger to cause switch operation when said external operating arm is moved in either direction, and being operable when said plunger is set on said guide pin at a different angle for rendering said coupling means effective to slide said plunger to cause switch operation when said external operating arm is moved in one direction and for renderiNg said de-coupling means effective to clear said plunger to afford by-pass when said external operating arm is moved in the other direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein: said polygonal portion is a square portion extending from said one end substantially to the midportion of said guide pin to afford selective setting of said plunger on said guide pin at 90* spaced angles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said motion translating means including selective coupling and decoupling means comprises: a crank shaft attached to said operating arm; cams mounted on said crank shaft; rockers mounted in said housing for actuation by said cams; a pair of slide members in said housing for actuation by said rockers; a flange on said plunger having a cutout at a predetermined angle; and a pair of push plates secured to the respective slide members and extending under said flange whereby both push plates slide said plunger at said given angle and one push plate passes freely through said cutout at said different angle for by-pass in one direction of operating arm movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 3, wherein: each said slide member comprises means affording adjustment of its length thereby to adjust said plunger movement relative to said mating surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention defined in claim 4, wherein said means affording adjustment of the length of each said slide member comprises: a screw whose head is accessible upon removal of said operating head subassembly to afford stepless adjustment of the length of said slide member thereby to preset the switch trip point at a desired operating arm angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
303 words
In a limit switch of the type having a switch housing open at one end and a switch within the housing, switch operating means comprising: switch actuating means in the switch housing and accessible from the open end thereof for actuating the switch; and an operating head attached to the open end of the switch housing for engaging said switch actuating means to operate the switch comprising: a switch operating arm adapted to be swung in opposite directions to operate the switch; a pair of slide members slidably mounted in said operating head for reciprocal movement; a return spring biasing said switch operating arm in its center off position from which it is adapted to be swung in opposite directions; means operable when said operating arm is swung in said opposite directions for moving the respective slide members; a fixed guide member having a polygonal end portion and means mounting it to said operating head and a round free end portion extending toward the switch housing; a plunger having a bore complementary to said polygonal end portion whereby it is slidably received on said guide member to be non-rotatably slidable thereon for switch operation and adapted to be manually slid further to said round portion and rotated to another angle; and means providing interfering and non-interfering sections between said plunger and the two slide members operable when said plunger is positioned at one angle on its guide member to register interfering sections only for sliding said plunger to cause switch operation when said operating arm is swung in either direction, and being operable when said plunger is positioned at another angle on its guide member to register both interfering and non-interfering sections to afford by-pass in one direction of operating arm swing and switch operation in the other direction of operating arm swing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
303 words
In a limit switch of the type having a switch housing open at one end and a switch within the housing, switch operating means comprising: switch actuating means in the switch housing and accessible from the open end thereof for actuating the switch; and an operating head attached to the open end of the switch housing for engaging said switch actuating means to operate the switch comprising: a switch operating arm adapted to be swung in opposite directions to operate the switch; a pair of slide members slidably mounted in said operating head for reciprocal movement; a return spring biasing said switch operating arm in its center off position from which it is adapted to be swung in opposite directions; means operable when said operating arm is swung in said opposite directions for moving the respective slide members; a fixed guide member having a polygonal end portion and means mounting it to said operating head and a round free end portion extending toward the switch housing; a plunger having a bore complementary to said polygonal end portion whereby it is slidably received on said guide member to be non-rotatably slidable thereon for switch operation and adapted to be manually slid further to said round portion and rotated to another angle; and means providing interfering and non-interfering sections between said plunger and the two slide members operable when said plunger is positioned at one angle on its guide member to register interfering sections only for sliding said plunger to cause switch operation when said operating arm is swung in either direction, and being operable when said plunger is positioned at another angle on its guide member to register both interfering and non-interfering sections to afford by-pass in one direction of operating arm swing and switch operation in the other direction of operating arm swing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The invention defined in claim 6, wherein said means providing interfering and non-interfering sections comprises: a flange on said plunger having a notch; a push plate secured to each said slide member, each push plate having tongues extending under and over said flange so that when said operating arm is swung, a first tongue moves said plunger to operate the switch and another tongue keeps said plunger from Falling off when said operation head is detached; and said plunger being positionable at angles where said notch provides clearance for said first tongue of one or the other or neither of said push plates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The invention defined in claim 6, wherein said means mounting said guide pin to said operating head comprises: a mounting plate seating into and secured to said operating head and having the polygonal end of said guide pin rigidly secured thereto; the periphery of said plate being clamped between said operating head and said switch housing at the open end of the latter; and a pair of apertures in said mounting plate through which the respective slide members extend.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said means mounting said guide pin to said operating head further comprises: a resilient diaphragm secured to each said slide member and to said mounting plate around the respective aperture in the latter to serve as a seal while affording sufficient movement of said slide member to operate the switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined in claim 6, wherein: said polygonal end portion is a square end portion affording positioning of said plunger in any one of four different angular positions at 90* intervals and said slide members are spaced 180* apart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 6, wherein each said slide member comprises: a pair of sections biased apart to their full length by a compression spring and including means affording limited compression movement thereof to provide a resilient switch actuating force therethrough.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention defined in claim 11, wherein each said slide member further comprises: an adjusting screw extending through said pair of sections so that one of said sections is biased by said compression spring against the head of said screw and the other section is threaded on said screw to afford stepless adjustment of the length of each said slide member by turning the adjusting screw.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3275764A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |