Limit switch

Claim 2

A limit switch comprising: a frame member including a base portion and oppositely spaced sidewalls extending from said base portion; lead screw means transversely supported by said sidewalls and rotatable relative to said frame member; coupling means for connecting said lead screw means to a drive source for rotating said lead screw means; control means threadably engaged upon said lead screw means; retaining means operatively engageable with said control means and including adjusting means selectively operatively engaging and disengaging said retaining means with said control means for preventing rotation of said control means with said lead screw means while permitting axial advancement of said control means along said lead screw means in response to rotation of said lead screw means and for freeing said control means for rotation and selective positioning thereof along said lead screw means; groove means integral with said base portion; runner means for sliding engagement within said groove means; locking means for selectively preventing sliding movement of said runner means within said groove means and for freeing said runner means for the sliding movement; switching means carried by said runner means and located in the path of axial advancement of said control means for operation between a first switch position and a second switch position in response to selective engagement with and disengagement from said control means; and whereby said control means and said switching means are independently adjustable to permit a wide range of operation for the limit switch.

Claim 3

A limit switch according to claim 1: wherein said groove runs longitudinally along the entirety of said base portion; wherein said runner means includes a lower body member slidably engaged within said groove and an integral upper body member extending outwardly beyond said groove; and wherein said switching means is mounted upon said upper body member.

Claim 4

A limit switch according to claim 1: wherein said base portion includes an elongated extruded metallic member having two generally sloping leg members thereby defining a inverted V-shape form for said base portion; wherein said groove means includes a groove integral with each of said leg members running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic member, wherein said runner means includes a block member operative for sliding engagement with each of said grooves; wherein said locking means is individually operatively connected with each of said block members for selectively preventing sliding movement of each of said block members within each of said grooves and for freeing each of said block members for said movement; and wherein said switching means includes a switch assembly carried by each of said block members in each of said grooves.

Claim 5

A limit switch according to claim 3: wherein each of said leg members includes an integral flanged foot running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic member and making supportive contact with the ground.

Claim 6

A limit switch according to claim 1: wherein said base portion includes a first surface area and a second surface area, said first and second surface areas being generally oppositely spaced along and equidistant to the axis of rotation of said lead screw means; wherein said groove means includes a first and second groove integral with and disposed longitudinally along, respectively, said first and said second surface areas; wherein said runner means includes: first and second block members operative for independent sliding engagement within said first groove; third and fourth block members operative for independent sliding engagement within said second groove; wherein said locking means is individually operatively connected with each of said block members for selectively preventing sliding movement of the respective one of said block members within the respective one of said grooves and for freeing said respective block members for sliding movement within said respective groove; and wherein said switching means includes first, second, third, and fourth switching means carried by, respectively, said first, second, third, and fourth block members.

Claim 7

A limit switch according to claim 1: wherein said locking means includes a screw member having an upper screw portion attaching said switching means to said upper body portion and a lower screw portion projecting outwardly of said lower body portion and displaceable in response to rotation of said screw member between an abutting position with said groove to resist sliding movement of said runner means within said groove and a non-abutting position with said groove to free said runner means for sliding movement within said groove.

Claim 8

A limit switch comprising: a frame member including a base portion and oppositely spaced sidewalls extending from said base portion; a lead screw shaft transversely supported by said sidewalls and adapted to be connected to a drive source for rotation relative to said frame member; first and second actuator discs threadably engaging said lead screw shaft in a normally spaced-apart relationship to each other, each of said first and second actuator discs having outer perimeter edges including a plurality of generally axial slots spaced about the circumference thereof; a guide plate mounted on said frame and positioned generally longitudinally along and spaced from said lead screw shaft, said guide plate including a leading edge portion movable between an engaged position with one of said axial slots on each of said first and second actuator discs, which thereby prevents rotation of said first and second actuator discs while permitting sliding movement of said engaged ones of said axial slots along said leading edge portion as said first and second actuator discs axially advance along said lead screw shaft in response to rotation of said lead screw shaft, and a disengaged position from all of said axial slots, which thereby permits independent rotation of each of said first and second actuator discs relative to said lead screw shaft to thereby individually position each of said first and second actuator discs axially along said lead screw shaft; a groove integral with said base portion and running longitudinally along the entirety thereof; a first and second runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said groove; locking means for individually selectively preventing the sliding movement of each of said first and second runner members along said groove and for freeing each of said first and second runner members for the sliding movement; and first switching means carried by said upper body portion of said first runner member and second switching means carried by said upper body portion of said second runner member, said first and second switching means being adjustably located in the path of axial movement of said peripheral edges of said first and second actuator discs for selective engagement therewith and disengagement therefrom, said first and second switching means further being independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from either of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said first switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said second switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said second actuator disc; and whereby each of said actuator discs and each of said switching means are independently adjustable upon said frame member to permit a wide range of operation for the limit switch.

Claim 9

A limit switch comprising: a frame member including a base portion and oppositely spaced sidewalls extending from said base portion; a lead screw shaft transversely supported by said sidewalls and adapted to be connected to a drive source for rotation relative to said frame member; first and second actuator discs threadably engaging said lead screw shaft in a normally spaced-apart relationship to each other, each of said first and second actuator discs having outer perimeter edges including a plurality of generally axial slots spaced about the circumference thereof; a guide plate mounted on said frame and positioned generally longitudinally along and spaced from said lead screw shaft, said guide plate including a leading edge portion movable between an engaged position with one of said axial slots on each of said first and second actuator discs, which thereby prevents rotation of said first and second actuator discs while permitting sliding movement of said engaged ones of said axial slots along said leading edge portion as said first and second actuator discs axially advance along said lead screw shaft in response to rotation of said lead screw shaft, and a disengaged position from all of said axial slots, which thereby permits independent rotation of each of said first and second actuator discs relative to said lead screw shaft to thereby individually position each of said first and second actuator discs axially along said lead screw shaft; a groove integral with said base portion and running longitudinally along the entirety thereof; a first and second runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said groove; locking means for individually selectively preventing the sliding movement of each of said first and second runner members along said groove and for freeing each of said first and second runner members for the sliding movement; and first switching means carried by said upper body portion of said first runner member and second switching means carried by said upper body portion of said second runner member, said first and second switching means being adjustably located in the path of axial movement of said peripheral edges of said first and second actuator discs for selective engagement therewith and disengagement therefrom, said first and second switching means further being independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from either of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said first switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said second switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said second actuator disc; and whereby each of said actuator discs and each of said switching means are independently adjustable upon said frame member to permit a wide range of operation for the limit switch.

Claim 10

A limit switch comprising: a frame member including an elongated extruded metallic base member having first and second generally sloping leg members thereby defining an inverted V-shaped form, said first and second leg members spaced oppositely along and equidistant to the axis of rotation of said lead screw shaft, each of said first and second leg members including an integral flanged foot running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic base member and making supportive contact with the ground, and oppositely spaced sidewalls attached on and extending upwardly from said metallic base member; a lead screw shaft transversely supported by said sidewalls and adapted to be connected to a drive source for rotation relative to said frame member; first and second actuator discs threadably engaging said lead screw shaft in a normally spaced-apart relationship to each other, each of said first and second actuator discs having outer perimeter edges including a plurality of generally axial slots spaced about the circumference thereof; a guide plate mounted on said frame and positioned generally longitudinally along and spaced from said lead screw shaft, said guide plate including a leading edge portion movable between an engaged position with one of said axial slots on each of said first and second actuator discs, which thereby prevents rotation of said first and second actuator discs while permitting sliding movement of said engaged ones of said axial slots along said leading edge portion as said first and second actuator discs axially advance along said lead screw shaft in response to rotation of said lead screw shaft, and a disengaged position from all of said axial slots, which thereby permits independent rotation of each of said first and second actuator discs relative to said lead screw shaft to thereby individually position each of said first and second actuator discs axially along said lead screw shaft; a first and second groove integral with and disposed longitudinally along, respectively, the entirety of said first and second leg members; a first and second runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said first groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said first groove; a third and a fourth runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said second groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said second groove; locking means on each of said first, second, third and fourth runner members for selectively preventing sliding movement of the respective one of said runner members within the respective one of said grooves and for freeing said respective runner member for the sliding movement within said respective groove; first switching means carried by said upper body portion of said first runner member, second switching means carried by said upper body portion of said second runner member, said first and second switching means being adjustably located in the path of axial movement of said peripheral edges of said first and second actuator discs for selective engagement therewith and disengagement therefrom, said first and second switching means independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from either of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said first switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said second switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said second actuator disc; and third switching means carried by said upper body portion of said third runner member and fourth switching means carried by said upper body portion of said fourth runner member, said third and fourth switching means being located in the path of axial movement of said first and second actuator discs and independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from both of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said third switching means being located for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said fourth switching means being located for principal engagement with said second actuator disc; and whereby each of said actuator discs and each of said switching means are independently adjustable upon said frame member to permit a wide range of operation for the limit switch.

Claim 11

A limit switch comprising: a frame member including an elongated extruded metallic base member having first and second generally sloping leg members thereby defining an inverted V-shaped form, said first and second leg members spaced oppositely along and equidistant to the axis of rotation of said lead screw shaft, each of said first and second leg members including an integral flanged foot running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic base member and making supportive contact with the ground, and oppositely spaced sidewalls attached on and extending upwardly from said metallic base member; a lead screw shaft transversely supported by said sidewalls and adapted to be connected to a drive source for rotation relative to said frame member; first and second actuator discs threadably engaging said lead screw shaft in a normally spaced-apart relationship to each other, each of said first and second actuator discs having outer perimeter edges including a plurality of generally axial slots spaced about the circumference thereof; a guide plate mounted on said frame and positioned generally longitudinally along and spaced from said lead screw shaft, said guide plate including a leading edge portion movable between an engaged position with one of said axial slots on each of said first and second actuator discs, which thereby prevents rotation of said first and second actuator discs while permitting sliding movement of said engaged ones of said axial slots along said leading edge portion as said first and second actuator discs axially advance along said lead screw shaft in response to rotation of said lead screw shaft, and a disengaged position from all of said axial slots, which thereby permits independent rotation of each of said first and second actuator discs relative to said lead screw shaft to thereby individually position each of said first and second actuator discs axially along said lead screw shaft; a first and second groove integral with and disposed longitudinally along, respectively, the entirety of said first and second leg members; a first and second runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said first groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said first groove; a third and a fourth runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said second groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said second groove; locking means on each of said first, second, third and fourth runner members for selectively preventing sliding movement of the respective one of said runner members within the respective one of said grooves and for freeing said respective runner member for the sliding movement within said respective groove; first switching means carried by said upper body portion of said first runner member, second switching means carried by said upper body portion of said second runner member, said first and second switching means being adjustably located in the path of axial movement of said peripheral edges of said first and second actuator discs for selective engagement therewith and disengagement therefrom, said first and second switching means independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from either of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said first switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said second switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said second actuator disc; and third switching means carried by said upper body portion of said third runner member and fourth switching means carried by said upper body portion of said fourth runner member, said third and fourth switching means being located in the path of axial movement of said first and second actuator discs and independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from both of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said third switching means being located for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said fourth switching means being located for principal engagement with said second actuator disc; and whereby each of said actuator discs and each of said switching means are independently adjustable upon said frame member to permit a wide range of operation for the limit switch.

Claim 12

A limit switch according to claim 8 wherein said locking means includes a screw member having an upper screw portion attaching said respective switching means upon said respective upper body portion and a lower screw portion projecting outwardly of said respective lower body portion and displaceable in response to rotation of said screw member between an abutting position with said respective groove to resist sliding movement of said respective runner member within said respective groove and a non-abutting position with said respective groove to free said respective runner member for sliding movement within said respective groove.

Claim 13

A limit switch comprising: a frame member including a base portion and oppositely spaced sidewalls extending from said base portion; lead screw means transversely supported by said sidewalls and rotatable relative to said frame member; coupling means for connecting said lead screw means to a drive source for rotating said lead screw means; control means threadably engaged upon said lead screw means; retaining means operatively engaged with said control means for preventing rotation of said control means with said lead screw means while permitting axial advancement of said control means along said lead screw means in response to rotation of said lead screw means; a groove integral with said base portion, runner means for sliding engagement within said groove, and locking means for selectively preventing sliding movement of said runner means within said groove and for freeing said runner means for the sliding movement; and switching means carried by said runner means and located in the path of axial movement of said control means for operation between a first switch position and a second switch position in response to selective engagement with and disengagement from said control means.

Claim 14

A limit switch comprising: a frame member including a base portion and oppositely spaced sidewalls extending from said base portion; lead screw means transversely supported by said sidewalls and rotatable relative to said frame member; coupling means for connecting said lead screw means to a drive source for rotating said lead screw means; control means threadably engaged upon said lead screw means; retaining means operatively engaged with said control means for preventing rotation of said control means with said lead screw means while permitting axial advancement of said control means along said lead screw means in response to rotation of said lead screw means; a groove integral with said base portion, runner means for sliding engagement within said groove, and locking means for selectively preventing sliding movement of said runner means within said groove and for freeing said runner means for the sliding movement; and switching means carried by said runner means and located in the path of axial movement of said control means for operation between a first switch position and a second switch position in response to selective engagement with and disengagement from said control means.

Claim 15

A limit switch according to claim 10: wherein said groove runs longitudinally along the entirety of said base portion; wherein said runner means includes a lower body member slidably engaged with said groove and an integral upper body member extending outwardly beyond said groove; and wherein said switching means is mounted upon said upper body member.

Claim 16

A limit switch according to claim 11: wherein said locking means includes a screw member having an upper screw portion attaching said switching means to said upper body portion and a lower screw portion projecting outwardly of said lower body portion and displaceable in response to rotation of said screw member between an abutting position with said groove to resist sliding movement of said runner means within said groove and a nonabutting position with said groove to free said runner means for sliding movement within said groove.

Claim 17

A limit switch according to claim 10: wherein said base portion includes a first surface area and a second surface area, said first and second surface areas being generally oppositely spaced along and equidistant to the axis of rotation of said lead screw means; and further including a second groove in addition to said first mentioned groove, said first and second grooves being integral with and disposed longitudinally along, respectively, said first and said second surface areas; wherein said runner means includes: first and second runner members for independent sliding engagement within said first groove; third and fourth runner members for independent sliding engagement within said second groove; and wherein said locking means is associated with each of said runner members for individually selectively preventing sliding movement of the respective one of said runner members within the respective one of said grooves and for freeing said respective runner members for sliding movement within said respective groove; and wherein said switching means includes first, second, third, and fourth switching means carried by, respectively, said first, second, third, and fourth runner members.

Claim 18

A limit switch comprising: a frame member having a base portion including an elongated extruded metallic member having oppositely spaced sidewalls and two generally sloping leg members thereby defining an inverted V-shaped form for said base portion; lead screw means transversely supported by sidewalls and rotatable relative to said frame member; coupling means for connecting said lead screw means to a drive source for rotating said lead screw means; control means threadably engaged upon said lead screw means; retaining means operatively engaged with said control means for preventing rotation of said control means with said lead screw means while permitting axial advancement of said control means along said lead screw means in response to rotation of said lead screw means; a groove integral with each of said leg members running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic member, runner means for sliding engagement with each of said grooves, locking means for selectively preventing sliding movement of each of said runner means within each of said grooves and for freeing each of said runner means for said movement; and switching means carried by said runner means and located in the path of axial advancement of said control means for operation between a first switch position and a second switch position in response to selective engagement with and disengagement from said control means.

Claim 19

A limit switch comprising: a frame member having a base portion including an elongated extruded metallic member having oppositely spaced sidewalls and two generally sloping leg members thereby defining an inverted V-shaped form for said base portion; lead screw means transversely supported by sidewalls and rotatable relative to said frame member; coupling means for connecting said lead screw means to a drive source for rotating said lead screw means; control means threadably engaged upon said lead screw means; retaining means operatively engaged with said control means for preventing rotation of said control means with said lead screw means while permitting axial advancement of said control means along said lead screw means in response to rotation of said lead screw means; a groove integral with each of said leg members running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic member, runner means for sliding engagement with each of said grooves, locking means for selectively preventing sliding movement of each of said runner means within each of said grooves and for freeing each of said runner means for said movement; and switching means carried by said runner means and located in the path of axial advancement of said control means for operation between a first switch position and a second switch position in response to selective engagement with and disengagement from said control means.

Claim 20

A limit switch according to claim 14: wherein each of said leg members includes an integral flanged foot running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic member and making supportive contact with the ground.