Actuator assembly for electrical devices and methods of making
AssigneeSensata Technologies, Inc.
InventorsCalvin S Reuter, Matthew C Ryder, Ronny Vasquez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical device includes an actuator assembly configured to facilitate selective opening/closing of an electrical circuit. A plunger is positioned to be acted on by a magnetic field, a shaft is coupled to the plunger, and a movable contact is coupled to the shaft. The plunger includes an axial opening and an undercut formed in a surface defining the axial opening. The shaft is inserted into the opening and an end of the shaft extending from the opening is altered to increase a diameter of the shaft to prevent passage through the opening and such that a portion of the shaft extends into the undercut.
Claims20
A switching device comprising:
- a housing defining a volume;
- one or more fixed contacts disposed at least partially in the volume;
- a movable contact disposed in the volume;
- a shaft extending from a first end coupled to the movable contact to a second end;
- a plunger coupled to the second end of the shaft, the plunger comprising:
- a first surface,
- a second surface spaced from the first surface along an axis,
- an axial opening extending from the first surface to the second surface and configured to receive the shaft, and
- an undercut formed in an inner surface of the axial opening at a position spaced from the second surface such that a portion of the axial opening extends between the undercut and the second surface;
- and
- a coil proximate the plunger, the coil being configured to be selectively energized to alter a magnetic field and cause the plunger to move along the axis between a first position that configures the switching device in a closed configuration in which the movable contact contacts the one or more fixed contacts and a second position that configures the switching device in an open configuration in which the movable contact is spaced from the one or more fixed contacts,
- wherein the shaft extends at least partially into the undercut of the plunger to secure the plunger to the shaft.
An actuator assembly for an electrical device, the actuator assembly comprising:
- a shaft extending from a first end to a second end generally along an axis;
- a movable contact coupled to the first end of the shaft;
- and
- a plunger coupled to the second end of the shaft, the plunger comprising:
- an axial opening extending through the plunger, and
- an undercut formed in an inner surface of the axial opening at a position along the axial opening spaced from an end of the plunger such that a portion of the axial opening extends between the undercut and the end of the plunger, wherein:
- the shaft extends through the axial opening, and
- a portion of the shaft extends laterally into the undercut to secure the shaft and the plunger.
A method of forming an actuator assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a shaft extending axially from a head and to an end;
- providing a plunger, the plunger having a body, an axial opening extending through the body, and an undercut formed in an inner surface defining the axial opening, the undercut being disposed at a position along the axial opening spaced from an end of the plunger such that a portion of the axial opening extends between the undercut and an end of the plunger;
- positioning the shaft relative to the plunger with the shaft extending through the axial opening;
- and
- altering the end of the shaft proximate the plunger, the altering forming an increased diameter portion proximate the end and causing a portion of the shaft to extend into the undercut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.