US3823285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatically actuated switching device with ball contact means
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-12-27
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1992-12-27
Abstract
Abstract An electrically conductive sleeve having a bore therethrough is connected to a first conductor that is adapted to be connected to one side of an electrical circuit. A second conductor is mounted in an opening in the sleeve and is adapted to be connected to the other side of the electrical circuit. An electrically conductive ball is mounted in the bore and is movable by applying pneumatic pressure thereto betwen a circuit open position out of electrical communication with the second conductor and a circuit closed position in electrical communication with the second conductor and the sleeve. A cam surface extends into the bore and cams the ball into electrical communication with the second conductor and the sleeve in the circuit closed position. In a preferred embodiment, the cam surface is defined by a spring which flexes as the ball moves into and out of the circuit closed position so that the surface of the ball wipes against the surfaces of the bore and the spring, to clean such surfaces and thereby promote effective electrical communication therebetween. The bore is carefully dimensioned to very close tolerances so that the device is responsive to the application of a minimum pneumatic pressure. The pneumatic pressure is supplied by a deformable bulb manufactured in one piece by an injection molding technique to preclude leakage.
Inventors
- 👤 P Dwyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/22; H01H3/24; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
406 words
A pneumatically actuated switching device comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough and an opening therein extending into said bore, at least the portion of the surface of said bore opposite said opening being electrically conductive; a first electrical conductor means in electrical communication with said conductive portion and adapted to be connected to a first side of an electrical circuit; a second electrical conductor means mounted in said opening and adapted to be connected to a second side of said electrical circuit; an electrically conductive ball movably mounted in said bore, said ball being movable between a circuit open position out of electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and a circuit closed position in electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said conductive portion, whereby said the ball is in said circuit closed position said first and second electrical conductor means are placed in electrical communication with one another, said ball normally being in one of said positions; a cam surface attached to said second electrical conductor means and extending into said bore and into the path of movement of said ball adjacent said circuit closed position for camming said ball into electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said conductive portion, said cam surface comprising an electrically conductive generally Ushaped spring having a contact leg and a mounting leg, said legs being connected by a hinge portion, said contact leg Extending into said bore and said mounting leg being attached to said second electrical conductor means with said hinge portion free from contact with said second electrical conductor means, whereby flexing of said spring is unimpaired, said contact leg extending along said bore toward said circuit open position so that said contact leg engages said ball during movement of the ball to and from said circuit closed position, said ball flexing said spring during movement of the ball to and from said circuit closed position, whereby the surface of said ball wipes against the surfaces of said bore and said spring during movement of the ball to and from said circuit closed position, to thereby clean said surfaces and thus promote effective electrical communication therebetween, and pneumatic actuating means connected to said sleeve and communicating with one end of said bore, said actuating means being selectively operable to move said ball from said one position to the other of said positions by applying pneumatic pressure thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
406 words
A pneumatically actuated switching device comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough and an opening therein extending into said bore, at least the portion of the surface of said bore opposite said opening being electrically conductive; a first electrical conductor means in electrical communication with said conductive portion and adapted to be connected to a first side of an electrical circuit; a second electrical conductor means mounted in said opening and adapted to be connected to a second side of said electrical circuit; an electrically conductive ball movably mounted in said bore, said ball being movable between a circuit open position out of electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and a circuit closed position in electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said conductive portion, whereby said the ball is in said circuit closed position said first and second electrical conductor means are placed in electrical communication with one another, said ball normally being in one of said positions; a cam surface attached to said second electrical conductor means and extending into said bore and into the path of movement of said ball adjacent said circuit closed position for camming said ball into electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said conductive portion, said cam surface comprising an electrically conductive generally Ushaped spring having a contact leg and a mounting leg, said legs being connected by a hinge portion, said contact leg Extending into said bore and said mounting leg being attached to said second electrical conductor means with said hinge portion free from contact with said second electrical conductor means, whereby flexing of said spring is unimpaired, said contact leg extending along said bore toward said circuit open position so that said contact leg engages said ball during movement of the ball to and from said circuit closed position, said ball flexing said spring during movement of the ball to and from said circuit closed position, whereby the surface of said ball wipes against the surfaces of said bore and said spring during movement of the ball to and from said circuit closed position, to thereby clean said surfaces and thus promote effective electrical communication therebetween, and pneumatic actuating means connected to said sleeve and communicating with one end of said bore, said actuating means being selectively operable to move said ball from said one position to the other of said positions by applying pneumatic pressure thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
322 words
A pneumatically actuated switching device comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough and an opening therein extending into said bore, at least the portion of the surface of said bore opposite said opening being electrically conductive; a first electrical conductor means in electrical communication with said conductive portion and adapted to be connected to a first side of an electrical circuit; a second electrical conductor means mounted in said opening and adapted to be connected to a second side of said electrical circuit; an electrically conductive ball movably mounted in said bore, said ball being movable between a circuit open position out of electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and a circuit closed position in electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said conductive portion, whereby when the ball is in said circuit closed position said first and second electrical conductor means are placed in electrical communication with one another, said ball normally being in one of said positions; a cam surface extending into said bore and into the path of movement of said ball adjacent said circuit closed position for camming said ball into electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said conductive portion; pneumatic actuating means connected to said sleeve for communicating with one end of said bore, said actuating means being selectively operable to move said ball from said one position to the other of said positions by applying pneumatic pressure thereto; means for locking said ball adjacent said other position; and reset means for releasing said ball from said locking means, said reset means comprising a reset rod mounted substantially coaxially of said bore and movable into said bore through the other end thereof, said reset rod engaging said ball upon movement thereof into said bore, whereby movement of the reset rod into said bore releases the ball from said locking means and moves the ball toward said one position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
322 words
A pneumatically actuated switching device comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough and an opening therein extending into said bore, at least the portion of the surface of said bore opposite said opening being electrically conductive; a first electrical conductor means in electrical communication with said conductive portion and adapted to be connected to a first side of an electrical circuit; a second electrical conductor means mounted in said opening and adapted to be connected to a second side of said electrical circuit; an electrically conductive ball movably mounted in said bore, said ball being movable between a circuit open position out of electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and a circuit closed position in electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said conductive portion, whereby when the ball is in said circuit closed position said first and second electrical conductor means are placed in electrical communication with one another, said ball normally being in one of said positions; a cam surface extending into said bore and into the path of movement of said ball adjacent said circuit closed position for camming said ball into electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said conductive portion; pneumatic actuating means connected to said sleeve for communicating with one end of said bore, said actuating means being selectively operable to move said ball from said one position to the other of said positions by applying pneumatic pressure thereto; means for locking said ball adjacent said other position; and reset means for releasing said ball from said locking means, said reset means comprising a reset rod mounted substantially coaxially of said bore and movable into said bore through the other end thereof, said reset rod engaging said ball upon movement thereof into said bore, whereby movement of the reset rod into said bore releases the ball from said locking means and moves the ball toward said one position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
326 words
A pneumatically actuated switching device comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough and an opening therein extending into said bore, at least the portion of the surface of said bore opposite said opening being electrically conductive; a first electrical conductor means in electrical communication with said conductive portion and adapted to be connected to a first side of an electrical circuit; a second electrical conductor means mounted in said opening and adapted to be connected to a second side of said electrical circuit; an electrically conductive ball movably mounted in said bore, said ball being movable between a circuit open position out of electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and a circuit closed position in electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said cOnductive portion, whereby when the ball is in said circuit closed position said first and second electrical conductor means are placed in electrical communication with one another, said ball normally being in one of said positions; an electrically conductive spring means in electrical communication with one of said conductors and positioned in said bore substantially opposite the other of said conductors, said spring means protruding into the path of movement of said ball at said circuit closed position and extending therefrom toward said circuit open position to intercept said ball in advance of said circuit closed position, said ball thereby flexing said spring so that the surface of said ball wipes against the surface of said bore and said spring means during the final portion of movement into said circuit closed position and the initial portion of movement out of said circuit closed position to thereby clean said surfaces and thus promote effective electrical communication therebetween; and pneumatic actuating means connected to said sleeve and communicating with one end of said bore, said actuating means being selectively operable to move said ball from said one position to the other of said positions by applying pneumatic pressure thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
326 words
A pneumatically actuated switching device comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough and an opening therein extending into said bore, at least the portion of the surface of said bore opposite said opening being electrically conductive; a first electrical conductor means in electrical communication with said conductive portion and adapted to be connected to a first side of an electrical circuit; a second electrical conductor means mounted in said opening and adapted to be connected to a second side of said electrical circuit; an electrically conductive ball movably mounted in said bore, said ball being movable between a circuit open position out of electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and a circuit closed position in electrical communication with said second electrical conductor means and said cOnductive portion, whereby when the ball is in said circuit closed position said first and second electrical conductor means are placed in electrical communication with one another, said ball normally being in one of said positions; an electrically conductive spring means in electrical communication with one of said conductors and positioned in said bore substantially opposite the other of said conductors, said spring means protruding into the path of movement of said ball at said circuit closed position and extending therefrom toward said circuit open position to intercept said ball in advance of said circuit closed position, said ball thereby flexing said spring so that the surface of said ball wipes against the surface of said bore and said spring means during the final portion of movement into said circuit closed position and the initial portion of movement out of said circuit closed position to thereby clean said surfaces and thus promote effective electrical communication therebetween; and pneumatic actuating means connected to said sleeve and communicating with one end of said bore, said actuating means being selectively operable to move said ball from said one position to the other of said positions by applying pneumatic pressure thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, wherein said sleeve is oriented at an angle to the horizontal and said pneumatic actuating means communicates with the lower end of said bore, said ball being mounted in the portion of said bore extending above said spring means and being normally in said circuit closed position, said pneumatic actuating means moving said ball to said circuit open position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, wherein said sleeve is oriented at an angle to the horizontal and said pneumatic actuating means communicates with the lower end of said bore, said ball being mounted in the portion of said bore extending below said spring means and being normally in said circuit open position, said pneumatic actuating means moving said ball to said circuit closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, further comprising air filter means mounted adjacent the other end of said bore.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, wherein said spring means is attached to said second electrical conductor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 7, wherein said second electrical conductor means also extends into said bore and into the path of movement of said ball and arrests the movement of the ball in said circuit closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring having a leg extending into said bore, said leg having a free end oriented in the direction of said circuit open position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises a generally U-shaped spring having a contact leg and a mounting leg, said legs being connected by a hinge portion, said contact leg extending into said bore and said mounting leg being attached to said second electrical conductor means with said hinge portion free from contact with said second electrical conductor means, whereby flexing of said spring is unimpaired.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, further comprising a housing and a plug means, said sleeve being mounted in said housing and said plug means being mounted in said housing in alignment with said opening, said plug means including an externally disposed tubular element comprising said first electrical conductor means and an internally disposed rod element comprising said second electrical conductor means, said plug means being adapted to be received by a receptacle connected to said electrical circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 11, wherein said pneumatic actuating means comprises a deformable bulb and a tube, One end of said tube being connected to said bulb and the other end of said tube being connected to said housing adjacent said one end of said bore, whereby when said plug means is received by a generally horizontal receptacle the weight of said tube tends to orient said sleeve generally vertically with said one end of said bore oriented downwardly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, wherein said pneumatic actuating means comprises a deformable bulb and a tube, one end of said tube being connected to said bulb and the other end of said tube communicating with said one end of said bore.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, wherein said pneumatic actuating means comprises a manifold communicating with said one end of said bore, and a plurality of deformable bulbs connected in parallel to said manifold, whereby pneumatic pressure may be applied to said ball by any one of said bulbs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, further comprising means for locking said ball adjacent said other position, and reset means for releasing said ball from said locking means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 15, wherein said locking means comprises a magnet means mounted adjacent the other end of said bore.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 13, wherein said cam surface is defined by an electrically conductive spring means attached to said second electrical conductor means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 15, wherein said reset means comprises a reset rod mounted substantially coaxially of said bore and movable into said bore through the other end thereof, said reset rod engaging said ball upon movement thereof into said bore, whereby movement of the reset rod into said bore releases the ball from said locking means and moves the ball toward said one position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 18, wherein said locking means comprises a magnetic means mounted adjacent the other end of said first-mentioned bore and having a second bore therethrough, said reset rod being movable through said second bore into said first bore.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 3, wherein said pneumatic actuating means comprises a deformable bulb having a pair of opposed, slightly convex actuating sides of relatively large area.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pneumatically actuated switching device of claim 20, wherein said actuating sides are of generally circular configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |