Diaphragm pressure switch with balance plate and adjustable springs

Claim 2

A condition responsive device comprising: a. a housing; b. a chamber in said housing; c. a sensing means partially defining said chamber, said sensing means being displaceable through a stroke; d. a balance plate having first and second sides, said sensing means being operatively coupled to said balance plate; e. stop means associated with both said first and second sides of said balance plate defining first and second axes about which said balance plate pivots, said stop means associated with said first side of said balance plate including a first pivotal protrusion disposed on said first side of said balance plate immediately adjacent to a depression in said first side, said stop means associated with said second side of said balance plate including a second pivotal protrusion disposed on said second side of said balance plate immediately adjacent to a depression in said second side, said first pivotal protrusion being disposed directly opposite said depression in said second side, and said second pivotal protrusion being disposed directly opposite said depression in said first side; f. a pair of biasing means, at least one of which being adjustable and each having a line of force acting on said balance plate; g. signal producing means operatively coupled to said balance plate; h. whereby displacement of said sensing means through one part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance plate about said first axis and displacement of said sensing means through another part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance plate about said second axis.

Claim 3

A condition responsive device as defined in claim 1 wherein both biasing means of said pair are adjustable.

Claim 4

A condition responsive device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal producing means is at least one microswitch.

Claim 5

A condition responsive device as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said stop means include a first set of protrusions extending from said first side of said balance plate, said first set including said first pivotal protrusion and a low pressure protrusion, the protrusioNs of said first set being spaced from each other; b. said stop means include a second set of protrusions extending from said second side of said balance plate, said second set including said second pivotal protrusion and a high pressure protrusion, the protrusions of said second set being spaced from each other; and c. said stop means include stationary means disposed above and below said balance plate, said protrusions of said first set being engageable with said stationary means below said balance plate to define said first axis, said protrusions of said second set being engageable with said stationary means above said balance plate to define said second axis.

Claim 6

A condition responsive device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second pivotal protrusions have substantially the configuration of spherical segments, each spherical segment being one quarter or less of a complete sphere.

Claim 7

A condition responsive device as defined in claim 5, wherein said first and second pivotal protrusions include flat sides having substantially semi-circular configurations, each of said flat sides being disposed perpendicular to the plane of the balance plate.

Claim 8

A condition responsive device as defined in claim 6, wherein said flat sides are disposed substantially in the same vertical plane.

Claim 9

A condition responsive device comprising: a. a housing; b. a chamber in said housing; c. sensing means partially defining said chamber, said sensing means being displaceable through a stroke; d. a balance means in said housing operatively connected to said sensing means; e. a plurality of stop means co-operating with said balance means defining a pair of axes about which said balance means pivots; f. a pair of elongated, hollow biasing means coupled with said balance means, at least one of said biasing means being adjustable and being adjusted to exert a different biasing force than the other biasing means, whereby movement of said sensing means through one part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance means about one axis, and movement of said sensing means through another part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance means about the other axis; g. a pair of switching devices, each device being coupled to said balance means by an actuating rod, each actuating rod extending through the hollow interior of one of said biasing means.

Claim 10

A condition responsive device comprising: a. a housing; b. a chamber in said housing; c. sensing means partially defining said chamber, said sensing means being displaceable through a stroke; d. a balance means in said housing operatively connected to said sensing means; e. a plurality of stop means co-operating with said balance means defining a pair of axes about which said balance means pivots; f. a pair of elongated, hollow biasing means coupled with said balance means, at least one of said biasing means being adjustable and being adjusted to exert a different biasing force than the other biasing means, whereby movement of said sensing means through one part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance means about one axis, and movement of said sensing means through another part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance means about the other axis; g. a pair of switching devices, each device being coupled to said balance means by an actuating rod, each actuating rod extending through the hollow interior of one of said biasing means.

Claim 11

A control device as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. both of said biasing means are coil springs held in compression, and b. each of said actuating rods are concentrically disposed with respect to one of said springs.

Claim 12

A control device as defined in claim 9, including a pair of spring retainers for coupling said springs and said actuating rods to said balance means, one end of each spring being connected with one of said retainers, one end of each retainer being connected with said balance means, the other end of each retainer being connected with one of said actuating rods, whereby said actuating rods are operatively coupled with said balance plate.

Claim 13

A control device as defined in claim 10: a. wherein both of said springs are adjustable; b. including: a pair of adjusting members, said springs being connected with said adjusting members; c. wherein: each adjusting member has a bore therethrough, one of said actuating rods extending through each bore to be coupled with one of said switching devices.

Claim 14

A control device as defined in claim 8, including an adjusting member coupled to the adjustable biasing means, said adjusting member including a bore therethrough, said actuating post passing through said bore in said adjusting member.

Claim 15

A control device as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. both of said biasing means are adjustable; b. each biasing means has an adjusting member connected therewith; c. each adjusting member has a bore therethrough; and d. one of said actuating rods extends through each bore to be coupled witH one of said switching devices.

Claim 16

A control device as defined in claim 13, including: a. a pair of brackets, each bracket mounting one of said switching devices with respect to said housing; b. a pair of sleeves, each sleeve extending from one bracket into the bore of one adjusting member, said adjusting members being telescopically moveable relative to said sleeves.

Claim 17

A control device as defined in claim 8, wherein said switching devices are mounted externally of said housing.

Claim 18

A condition responsive device comprising: a. a housing; b. a chamber in said housing; c. a sensing means partially defining said chamber, said sensing means being displaceable through a stroke; d. a balance plate having first and second sides, said sensing means being operatively coupled to said balance plate; e. stop means associated with said balance plate defining first and second axes about which said balance plate pivots, said stop means including a plurality of protrusions on both sides of said balance plate, said stop means further including an upper annular stop plate above said balance plate and a lower annular stop plate below said balance plate, said protrusions on said balance plate being engageable with said stop plates; f. a pair of biasing means, at least one of which being adjustable and each having a line of force acting on said balance plate; g. a guiding device for said balance plate, said guiding device including a plurality of resislient, radially extending members, one end of each radially extending member being connected with a central region of said balance plate, the other end of each radially extending member being fixedly attached to said lower annular stop plate, said lower stop plate including a plurality of recesses therein, one recess being disposed immediately adjacent to each point on said lower stop plate where said radially extending members are attached, said recesses facilitating flexing of said radially extending members; h. a signal producing means operatively coupled to said balance plate; i. whereby displacement of said sensing means through one part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance plate about said first axis and displacement of said sensing means through another part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance plate about said second axis.

Claim 19

A condition responsive device comprising: a. a housing; b. a chamber in said housing; c. a sensing means partially defining said chamber, said sensing means being displaceable through a stroke; d. a balance plate having first and second sides, said sensing means being operatively coupled to said balance plate; e. stop means associated with said balance plate defining first and second axes about which said balance plate pivots, said stop means including a plurality of protrusions on both sides of said balance plate, said stop means further including an upper annular stop plate above said balance plate and a lower annular stop plate below said balance plate, said protrusions on said balance plate being engageable with said stop plates; f. a pair of biasing means, at least one of which being adjustable and each having a line of force acting on said balance plate; g. a guiding device for said balance plate, said guiding device including a plurality of resislient, radially extending members, one end of each radially extending member being connected with a central region of said balance plate, the other end of each radially extending member being fixedly attached to said lower annular stop plate, said lower stop plate including a plurality of recesses therein, one recess being disposed immediately adjacent to each point on said lower stop plate where said radially extending members are attached, said recesses facilitating flexing of said radially extending members; h. a signal producing means operatively coupled to said balance plate; i. whereby displacement of said sensing means through one part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance plate about said first axis and displacement of said sensing means through another part of its stroke effects pivoting of said balance plate about said second axis.

Claim 20

A condition responsive device as defined in claim 16, wherein both biasing means of said pair are adjustable.

Claim 21

A condition responsive device as defined in claim 17, wherein said signal producing means is at least one microswitch.

Claim 22

A control device comprising: a. a housing; b. a chamber in said housing; c. a displaceable sensing means partially defining said chamber; d. first and second compressible coil springs disposed in said housing and operatively connected to said sensing means; e. first and second resilient guide members connected with said springs, said members also being connected to said housing at first and second connecting regions; f. said first and second connecting regions of said housing being disposed substantially diametrically opposite to one another; g. said first connecting region being disposed adjacent said first spring, said second connecting region being disposed adjacent said second spring; h. said first guide member extending from said second connecting region to said first spring; i. said second guide member extending from said first connecting region to said second spring; wherein each guide member includes: j. a base portion by which said guide member is attached to said housing at one of said connecting regions; k. a coupling portion by which said guide member is coupled to one of said springs; l. a leg portion extending between said base and said coupling portion; wherein said coupling portion extends laterally to only one side of said leg portion to facilitate avoidance of interference between said guide member and the spring Other than that to which said guide member is connected.

Claim 23

A control device comprising: a. a housing; b. a chamber in said housing; c. a displaceable sensing means partially defining said chamber; d. first and second compressible coil springs disposed in said housing and operatively connected to said sensing means; e. first and second resilient guide members connected with said springs, said members also being connected to said housing at first and second connecting regions; f. said first and second connecting regions of said housing being disposed substantially diametrically opposite to one another; g. said first connecting region being disposed adjacent said first spring, said second connecting region being disposed adjacent said second spring; h. said first guide member extending from said second connecting region to said first spring; i. said second guide member extending from said first connecting region to said second spring; wherein each guide member includes: j. a base portion by which said guide member is attached to said housing at one of said connecting regions; k. a coupling portion by which said guide member is coupled to one of said springs; l. a leg portion extending between said base and said coupling portion; wherein said coupling portion extends laterally to only one side of said leg portion to facilitate avoidance of interference between said guide member and the spring Other than that to which said guide member is connected.

Claim 24

A control device as defined in claim 19, wherein said leg portion includes a bend therein, said bend facilitating avoidance of interference between said guide member and the spring other than that to which said guide member is connected.