Vibration actuated switch with magnetic holding means and armature reset positioning means

Claim 2

A vibration actuated switch comprising: casing means including means defining a cavity therein and opposed shoulder means in said cavity; switch means including a switch actuator in said cavity; armature means having a portion located proximate said switch actuator which is movable into operating contact therewith in response to vibrations; magnet means on said armature means tending to retain said movable portion in position proximate said switch actuator; and substantially U-shaped bracket means suspended in said cavity and supporting said switch means and said armature means thereon including a pair of opposed ends extending therefrom and supported by the respective shoulder means.

Claim 3

The invention as claim 1 wherein said substantially U-shaped bracket means includes a base having a pair of opposed, substantially parallel side walls extending therefrom and said armature means and said switch means are mounted on respective side walls of said bracket means.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 including a bracket extending from one of said side walls of said substantially U-shaped bracket means toward the other side wall and further including means retaining said switch means between said bracket and said other side wall.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein said armature is pivotally affixed to said one side wall, and including biasing means tending to bias said movable portion of said armature means into operating contact with said switch actuator, said biasing means including a first spring disposed in compression between said armature means and said base and a second spring disposed in compression between said armature means and said bracket.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 including another magnet means supported by said substantially U-shaped bracket means for retaining said movable portion of said armature means in operating contact with said switch actuator upon its being moved in response to vibrations.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 including reset means for retracting said movable portion of said armature means to said position proximate said switch actuator comprising a rod movable toward said armature means and spring means extending from said rod and contacting said armature for transmitting a reset force thereto in accordance with movement of said rod.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein said casing means includes a body portion having means thereon for being affixed to a machine or the like under observation for excessive vibrations, a cover portion disposed over said body portion, a sealing gasket between said body and cover portions and further including means for rigidly retaining said cover portion onto said body portion.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1 including stop means preventing said magnet means on said armature means from contacting said substantially U-shaped bracket means.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1 including a spring steel support having a pair of sides defining a substantially L-shape with one side affixed to said substantially U-shaped bracket means and including means affixing said armature means to the other side, the intersection of the sides forming a pivot for said armature means.

Claim 11

A vibration actuated switch comprising: casing means including means defining a cavity therein; switch means including a switch actuator in said cavity; armature means having a portion located proximate said switch actuator which is movable into opening contact therewith in response to vibrations; magnet means on said armature means tending to retain said movable portion in position proximate said switch actuator; bracket means within said cavity supporting said switch means and said armature means thereon; and reset means for retracting said movable portion of said armature means to said position proximate said switch actuator comprising rod means extending through said casing means into said cavity and movable toward said armature means and a spring means extending from said rod means toward said armature means for contacting said armature means and transmitting a reset force thereto in accordance with movement of said rod means.

Claim 12

A vibration actuated switch comprising: casing means including means defining a cavity therein; switch means including a switch actuator in said cavity; armature means having a portion located proximate said switch actuator which is movable into opening contact therewith in response to vibrations; magnet means on said armature means tending to retain said movable portion in position proximate said switch actuator; bracket means within said cavity supporting said switch means and said armature means thereon; and reset means for retracting said movable portion of said armature means to said position proximate said switch actuator comprising rod means extending through said casing means into said cavity and movable toward said armature means and a spring means extending from said rod means toward said armature means for contacting said armature means and transmitting a reset force thereto in accordance with movement of said rod means.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 including a bracket connected to said bracket means, and said switch means being supported between said bracket and bracket means.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 11 wherein said bracket includes means defining an aperture therein, and said rod means extends through said aperture toward said armature means.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10 including a stop member preventing said magnet means from contacting said bracket means.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 10 including a spring steel support having a pair of intersecting sides defining a substantially L-shaped configuration with one side affixed to said bracket means and the other side carrying said armature means, with the intersection of the sides forming a pivot for said armature means.