US4558513A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable rotary switch
Assignee: CTS Corp
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Filing: 1983-04-25
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Granted: 1985-12-17
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Expires: 2003-04-25
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable rotary switch (10) effects a high degree of switching accuracy between the switching circuit disposed in a printed circuit board (60) and the external switch actuator attached to the shaft (80) of the rotary switch (10). The switch (10) includes an annular rotor (40) mounted on the shaft (80), the rotor (40) having multi-fingered contactors (50) mounted thereon for engagement with conductive paths (70) disposed in the printed circuit board (60). The shaft (80), rotor (40), and printed circuit board (60) are disposed within a rectangular housing (12) having an aperture (18) providing access to one end of the shaft, and a housing cover (14) having an aperture (15) journalling the other end of the shaft. After assembly of the switch, the housing (12) and shaft (80) may be held in a fixed position while an adjustment tool (30) rotates the rotor (40) to adjust the position of the contactors (50) relative to the shaft (80) and the conductive paths (70) of the printed circuit board (60). Alternatively, the adjustment tool (30) may be held still while the shaft (80) is rotated to effect a new positional relationship between the switch parts. After the switch parts are adjusted, the rotor (40) is secured to the shaft (80) by applying an adhesive, and then covers (22) are inserted in the openings (18, 20) in the housing (12).
Inventors
- 👤 Gary L. Buss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:33
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H19/00; H01H19/54; H01H19/56; H01H19/58; H01H19/585; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/36; H01H1/48; H01H2300/00; H01H2300/056; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A process for accurately selecting any of a plurality of combinations of external circuits connected to a rotary switch having an electrically inert substrate bearing a plurality of electrical contact paths arranged in multiple concentric rings in a surface thereof and a generally annular rotor having electrical contact means mounted thereon for a high degree of switching accuracy between said electrical contact paths and said contact means, comprising the steps of (a) mounting the generally annular insulating rotor upon a shaft with said contact means in opposed facing relationship with the conductive paths in said insulating substrate, (b) enclosing said shaft, annular insulating rotor, and insulating substrate within a housing having an opening therein and housing cover, said generally annular insulating rotor having adjustment teeth means at a portion of the circumference thereof, (c) engaging a tool means having teeth mating means with said adjustment teeth means of said rotor, and (d) rotatably positioning said rotor and contact means relative to the shaft to effect an accurate positioning of said contact means in relation to said contact paths and said shaft whereby the process of selecting any of said combinations includes a high degree of switching accuracy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A process for accurately selecting any of a plurality of combinations of external circuits connected to a rotary switch having an electrically inert substrate bearing a plurality of electrical contact paths arranged in multiple concentric rings in a surface thereof and a generally annular rotor having electrical contact means mounted thereon for a high degree of switching accuracy between said electrical contact paths and said contact means, comprising the steps of (a) mounting the generally annular insulating rotor upon a shaft with said contact means in opposed facing relationship with the conductive paths in said insulating substrate, (b) enclosing said shaft, annular insulating rotor, and insulating substrate within a housing having an opening therein and housing cover, said generally annular insulating rotor having adjustment teeth means at a portion of the circumference thereof, (c) engaging a tool means having teeth mating means with said adjustment teeth means of said rotor, and (d) rotatably positioning said rotor and contact means relative to the shaft to effect an accurate positioning of said contact means in relation to said contact paths and said shaft whereby the process of selecting any of said combinations includes a high degree of switching accuracy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of fixedly securing said generally annular insulating rotor to said shaft by applying an adhesive therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process in accordance with claim 1, including the step of disposing sealing means about an end of said shaft to exclude contaminants from the interior of said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of securing cover means to said opening in said housing so that contaminants will not enter therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process in accordance with claim 1, including the step of positioning said rotor relative to said housing by forming an annular projection on said rotor and a complementary annular groove in said housing for receiving said annular projection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
250 words
A process for selecting any one of a plurality of combinations of external circuits connected to a rotary switch, the combinations being in accordance with a predetermined code, and said rotary switch having an insulating board with a plurality of electrical contact paths arranged in multiple concentric rings in a surface thereof and a rotor having a generally annular insulating body with electrical contact means mounted thereon for engaging selected paths in different ones of said rings, comprising the steps of (a) mounting said rotor upon shaft means such that said contact means mounted on said rotor is in opposed facing relationship with the conductive paths in said insulating board, (b) positioning said rotor, insulating board, and shaft means between a housing body and a housing cover, said housing body having tool access means therein, (c) engaging adjustment means having teeth with adjustment teeth means disposed at a portion of the circumference of said rotor, (d) rotatably securing at least one of said housing body, shaft means, and said rotor and then selectively rotating at least one of said housing body, shaft means, and said rotor to effect an accurate positioning of said contact means relative to said contact paths and said shaft means, and (e) securing said rotor to said shaft means whereby a high degree of switching accuracy is obtained between the electrical contact paths of the insulating board and switch actuating means attached to said shaft means when said shaft means is rotated to select a combination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
250 words
A process for selecting any one of a plurality of combinations of external circuits connected to a rotary switch, the combinations being in accordance with a predetermined code, and said rotary switch having an insulating board with a plurality of electrical contact paths arranged in multiple concentric rings in a surface thereof and a rotor having a generally annular insulating body with electrical contact means mounted thereon for engaging selected paths in different ones of said rings, comprising the steps of (a) mounting said rotor upon shaft means such that said contact means mounted on said rotor is in opposed facing relationship with the conductive paths in said insulating board, (b) positioning said rotor, insulating board, and shaft means between a housing body and a housing cover, said housing body having tool access means therein, (c) engaging adjustment means having teeth with adjustment teeth means disposed at a portion of the circumference of said rotor, (d) rotatably securing at least one of said housing body, shaft means, and said rotor and then selectively rotating at least one of said housing body, shaft means, and said rotor to effect an accurate positioning of said contact means relative to said contact paths and said shaft means, and (e) securing said rotor to said shaft means whereby a high degree of switching accuracy is obtained between the electrical contact paths of the insulating board and switch actuating means attached to said shaft means when said shaft means is rotated to select a combination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process in accordance with claim 6, including the step of inserting a tool through a tool access opening to engage said shaft means, rotating said shaft means to adjustably position said shaft means relative to said rotor and securing said shaft means to said rotor in positioned relation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of fixedly securing said generally rotor to said shaft means comprises applying an adhesive to said shaft means and rotor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the step of sealing said housing so that contaminants will not enter therein, by attaching cover means to said tool access means in said housing body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the step of preventing contaminants from entering the interior of said rotary switch by disposing a sealing means about an end of said shaft means journalled in an aperture located in either said housing cover or housing body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process for accurately defining the operative position of a rotary switch rotor having contact means relative to a substrate having contact paths arranged in concentric arcuate paths, comprising the steps of mounting the rotor onto a shaft with the contact means in confronting relationship with said paths, selectively rotating either the rotor or the shaft to effect a fine angular adjustment defining the operative position of the contact means and contact paths respectively, and thereafter fixedly joining the shaft and rotor to maintain said fine adjustment to maintain the operative relation of the contact means and contact paths.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process for accurately defining the operative position of a rotary switch rotor having contact means relative to a substrate having contact paths arranged in concentric arcuate paths, comprising the steps of mounting the rotor onto a shaft with the contact means in confronting relationship with said paths, selectively rotating either the rotor or the shaft to effect a fine angular adjustment defining the operative position of the contact means and contact paths respectively, and thereafter fixedly joining the shaft and rotor to maintain said fine adjustment to maintain the operative relation of the contact means and contact paths.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process in accordance with claim 11, including the step of confining the rotary switch within a sealed container after performing the adjustment positioning of said rotor and shaft externally of said container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-16 | 1989-06-17 | 1989-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-16 | 1993-06-17 | 1993-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-16 | 1997-06-17 | 1997-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |