Neutral position limit switch head design with part reduction and improved reliability

An electrical limit switch comprising:

• a switch subassembly including:
• a plurality of fixed electrical terminals;
• and
• a contact carrier comprising electrical contacts thereon, the contact carrier movable between a plurality of distinct switching positions to selectively shift a location of the electrical contacts to different electrical terminals to make and break different circuits in the switch subassembly;
• and
• an operating head subassembly including:
• a shaft rotatable in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;
• one cam member supported on the shaft, the one cam member being rotatable in the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions responsive to rotation of the shaft;
• an actuator member configured to move linearly in a first direction or a second direction responsive to rotation of the one cam member in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, with movement of the actuator member causing a corresponding movement of the contact carrier;
• and
• a follower comprising:
• a lever portion;
• and a rolling pin extending outward from an opening in the lever portion, the rolling pin being in contact with the one cam member, and the follower being in contact with the actuator member to translate rotation of the one cam member in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction into linear movement of the actuator member in the first or second direction, with the follower directly actuating the actuator member.

An operating head for providing actuation in a limit switch, the operating head comprising:

• a shaft rotatable in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;
• a cam member supported on the shaft and that is rotatable in the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions responsive to rotation of the shaft;
• an actuator member that moves linearly from a normal position in a first direction or a second direction responsive to rotation of the cam member in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, the actuator member movable between a first actuated position and a second actuated position;
• and
• a follower in contact with the cam member and the actuator member to translate rotation of the cam member in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction into linear movement of the actuator member in the first or second direction, the follower comprising:
• a lever portion;
• and a rolling pin extending outward from an opening in the lever portion, the rolling pin being in contact with the cam member.

An operating head comprising:

• a shaft rotatable in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;
• a follower comprising:
• a lever portion;
• and a rolling pin that extends from an opening in the lever portion;
• a cam member rotatable in the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions responsive to rotation of the shaft, the cam member comprising a cam surface, the cam surface comprising:
• a reduced diameter cam surface, an increased diameter cam surface, and a sloped region between the reduced diameter cam surface and the increased diameter cam surface;
• and
• an actuator member that moves linearly from a normal position in a first direction or a second direction responsive to rotation of the cam member in the clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction,
• wherein the rolling pin rests on the sloped region without touching the reduced diameter cam surface or the increased diameter cam surface when the operating head is at a normal operating position, and the operating head is at the normal operating position when no rotational force is applied to the shaft.