# US 11,443,905 B2 · High temperature switch apparatus

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- Number: US 11,443,905 B2
- Document ID: US11443905B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/796,570
- Filed: 2020-02-20
- Published: 2021-07-29
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-24
- Assignees: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Applicants: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert L. LaFountain; Anthony Wayne Klosterman; Michael John Simmons
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443905B2

## CPC

- H01H 13/14: Operating parts, e.g. push-button
- H01H 36/0073: {actuated by relative movement between two magnets}
- H01F 7/1615: {Armatures or stationary parts of magnetic circuit having permanent magnet}
- H01H 13/06: Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
- H01H 36/008: {Change of magnetic field wherein the magnet and switch are fixed, e.g. by shielding or relative movements of armature (for reed switches H01H36/002)}
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES

## Abstract

High temperature switch apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a ceramic contact base having an opening therein configured to removably receive a contact, a first ceramic plunger housing portion and a second ceramic plunger housing portion, the first ceramic plunger housing portion including a first protrusion, the second ceramic plunger housing portion including a first recess, the first recess to receive the first protrusion, and a first ceramic contact housing portion and a second ceramic contact housing portion, the first ceramic contact housing portion including a second protrusion and a first cavity, the second ceramic contact housing portion including a second recess and a second cavity, the first ceramic plunger housing portion, the second ceramic plunger housing portion, and the ceramic contact base configured to be coupled in between the first and second cavities when the second recess receives the second protrusion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a ceramic contact base having an opening therein configured to removably receive a contact;
a first ceramic plunger housing portion and a second ceramic plunger housing portion, the first ceramic plunger housing portion including a first protrusion, the second ceramic plunger housing portion including a first recess, the first recess to receive the first protrusion; and
a first ceramic contact housing portion and a second ceramic contact housing portion, the first ceramic contact housing portion including a second protrusion and a first cavity, the second ceramic contact housing portion including a second recess and a second cavity, the first ceramic plunger housing portion, the second ceramic plunger housing portion, and the ceramic contact base configured to be coupled between the first and second cavities when the second recess receives the second protrusion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ceramic contact base includes a second opening therein configured to removably receive a second contact.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further including a plunger assembly, the plunger assembly coupled between the first ceramic plunger housing portion and the second ceramic plunger housing portion when the first recess receives the first protrusion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plunger assembly includes a shaft to pass through a bore of a magnet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shaft is mechanically coupled to a second magnet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the magnet is a first magnet, and wherein the first and second magnets are rated to withstand temperatures in a high-heat environment.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contact is movable to abut a second contact when an object is located within a sensing field of the apparatus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second contact is removably coupled to the ceramic contact base.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ceramic contact housing portion and the second ceramic contact housing portion form a single ceramic contact housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ceramic contact housing portion includes a third protrusion, the second ceramic contact housing portion includes a third recess configured to receive the third protrusion of the first ceramic contact housing portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ceramic plunger housing portion includes a third protrusion, the second ceramic plunger housing portion includes a third recess to receive the third protrusion of the first ceramic plunger housing portion.