US3829637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Limit switch having mechanism to eliminate unwanted reactivation thereof
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-01-02
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A lever operated rotary limit switch for indicating when a device reaches a limiting position. The switch includes a housing having first and second portions. A motion converter is at least partially enclosed within the first portion of the housing. The converter includes a lever having one end adapted to engage the device which will move the lever, and a shaft assembly which has one portion thereof attached to the other end of the lever and another portion thereof for providing a standard switch motion in a first and a second direction upon a respective activation and deactivation movement of the lever by the device. A switch assembly is enclosed within the interior of the second portion of the housing. The switch assembly has cooperating contacts and means for opening and closing them. Activating means are provided for coupling the standard switch motion of the motion converter to the operating means of the switch assembly. Detent means in the form of a spring loaded ball or similarly shaped member is used to engage a groove in the other portion of the motion converter during deactivation movement in the second direction of the lever so as to prevent the lever from overshooting its zero or neutral position and from gaining sufficient potential energy to swing back in the activated direction thereby causing an unwanted reactivation of the limit switch.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kilcoin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H21/00; H01H21/02; H01H21/18; H01H21/22; H01H21/24; H01H21/28; H01H21/285; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18888; Y10T74/1892; Y10T74/1896
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A rotary limit switch for indicating when a device reaches a limiting position comprising: a. a housing having first and second portions; b. a motion converter at least partially disposed within the first portion of said housing, said motion converter including a lever having one end adapted to engage the device, and a shaft assembly having one portion thereof attached to the other end of said lever and another portion thereof providing a switch motion from an initial position in a first direction upon an activation movement of said lever by the device; c. a switch assembly disposed within the interior of the second portion of said housing, said switch assembly having at least a first and a second contact and operating means for moving said first and second contacts into and out of engagement with one another; d. means engaging said shaft assembly for moving said motion converter towards the initial position in a second direction simultaneously with a deactivation movement by said lever; e. actuating means coupling the switch motion of said motion converter to said operating means of said switch assembly; and f. detent means independent of and separate from said moving means for engaging said motion converter during deactivation movement in the second direction by said lever and for absorbing kinetic energy from and dampening a buildup in potential energy by said lever and said moving means to prevent a reactivation of said limit switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A rotary limit switch for indicating when a device reaches a limiting position comprising: a. a housing having first and second portions; b. a motion converter at least partially disposed within the first portion of said housing, said motion converter including a lever having one end adapted to engage the device, and a shaft assembly having one portion thereof attached to the other end of said lever and another portion thereof providing a switch motion from an initial position in a first direction upon an activation movement of said lever by the device; c. a switch assembly disposed within the interior of the second portion of said housing, said switch assembly having at least a first and a second contact and operating means for moving said first and second contacts into and out of engagement with one another; d. means engaging said shaft assembly for moving said motion converter towards the initial position in a second direction simultaneously with a deactivation movement by said lever; e. actuating means coupling the switch motion of said motion converter to said operating means of said switch assembly; and f. detent means independent of and separate from said moving means for engaging said motion converter during deactivation movement in the second direction by said lever and for absorbing kinetic energy from and dampening a buildup in potential energy by said lever and said moving means to prevent a reactivation of said limit switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A limit switch according to claim 1 wherein said shaft assembly includes a shaft, and a member having a camming section predeterminably positioned on said shaft and shaped to be selectively operable in at least one mode of operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A limit switch according to claim 2 wherein the camming section of said member is positioned on said shaft assembly to cause said operating means to be actuated when said lever is moved in a clockwise direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A limit switch according to claim 2 wherein the camming section of said member is positioned on said shaft assembly to cause said operating means to be actuated when said lever is moved in a counter clockwise direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A limit switch according to claim 2 wherein the camming section of said member is positioned on said shaft assembly to cause said operating means to be actuated when said lever is moved in either a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A limit switch according to claim 2 wherein said member has a detent section shaped to receive and engage said detent means when said lever is passing through a position of minimum potential energy and maximum kinetic energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A limit switch according to claim 6 wherein said detent means is comprised of a spring loaded body having a spring attached at one end to the first portion of said housing and a sOlid section having one end engaging an opposite end of said spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A limit switch according to claim 7 wherein the detent section of said member has at least one groove formed therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A limit switch according to claim 8 wherein the groove in the detent section of said member extends in a direction parallel to the axis of said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A limit switch according to claim 8 wherein another end of said solid section of said detent means is contoured to fit within approximately the whole of the groove in the detent section of said member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A limit switch according to claim 7 wherein the solid section of detent means is comprised of a spherical body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A limit switch according to claim 2 wherein said actuating means includes at least one spherical actuator protruding from the second portion of said housing, and retaining means for restraining movement of said spherical actuator outwardly of the second portion of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A limit switch according to claim 12 wherein said retaining means is comprised of a cylindrical bushing held within the second portion of said housing, said spherical actuator being retained within said bushing and capable of free reciprocative movement therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A limit switch according to claim 13 wherein said operating means of said switch assembly includes a reciprocative plunger extending therefrom and into said bushing for actuating said switch assembly when said spherical actuator depresses said plunger in response to actuating movement of said lever.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
193 words
A limit switch for indicating when a device reaches a limiting position comprising: a. a housing; b. a motion converter at least partially disposed within said housing, said motion converter having a first part for engaging the device, and a second part providing a switch motion in a first and a second direction upon a respective activation and deactivation movement of said first part; c. a switch assembly disposed within the interior of said housing, said switch assembly having at least a first and a second contact and operating means for moving said first and second contacts into and out of engagement with one another; d. means engaging said second part of said motion converter for restoring said second part of said motion converter towards its initial position; e. actuating means coupling the switch motion of said motion converter to said operating means of said switch assembly; and f. means independent of and separate from said restoring means for engaging said motion converter during deactivation movement in the second direction by said first part and for dampening buildup in potential energy by said restoring means to prevent a reactivation of said limit switch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
193 words
A limit switch for indicating when a device reaches a limiting position comprising: a. a housing; b. a motion converter at least partially disposed within said housing, said motion converter having a first part for engaging the device, and a second part providing a switch motion in a first and a second direction upon a respective activation and deactivation movement of said first part; c. a switch assembly disposed within the interior of said housing, said switch assembly having at least a first and a second contact and operating means for moving said first and second contacts into and out of engagement with one another; d. means engaging said second part of said motion converter for restoring said second part of said motion converter towards its initial position; e. actuating means coupling the switch motion of said motion converter to said operating means of said switch assembly; and f. means independent of and separate from said restoring means for engaging said motion converter during deactivation movement in the second direction by said first part and for dampening buildup in potential energy by said restoring means to prevent a reactivation of said limit switch.
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) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |