US 4,025,738 A · Reversible snap-action switch with cam operator and lost motion structure

Abstract

A reversible snap-action switch including a drive member and a switch-actuating driven member connected by a lost motion coupling. The relative position between the drive and driven members is shifted by substantially the lost motion distance as the drive member moves the driven member through a switching zone and then reverses its direction to return to its original position. In each direction of movement a bidirectional accelerating means imparts a snap-action motion to the drive member. This motion is coordinated with the position of the driven member so that switching occurs during the snap-action motion in each direction of movement, thereby inhibiting any hesitation in making or breaking the switch contacts. The invention also includes a cement-free mounting for the switch contacts.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A reversible snap-action switch, comprising:

a switch means,
an operating drive member,
a driven member having means to actuate said switch means, said driven member being movable through a switching zone in a given direction and in a direction reverse to said given direction to move said switch means respectively from a first to a second switching state and back to said first switching state,
lost motion means coupling said drive member in bidirectional driving relation with said driven member, said drive member being operable to drive said driven member through said switching zone in a given direction and thereafter to reverse its direction and drive said driven member back through said switching zone in the reverse direction, the relative position of said drive and driven members being shifted by substantially the lost motion distance between the beginning of drive movements in opposite directions, and
means for accelerating said drive member in said given and reverse directions in a snap-action motion, the action of said accelerating means being coordinated with the position of said driven member to effect switching in each direction during a snap-action motion.

2 more elements

A reversible snap-action rotary switch comprising:

a housing,
a set of switch contacts supported by said housing,
a rotatable drive member held in said housing and accessible from the exterior thereof,
a rotatable driven member disposed concentrically with respect to said drive member,
means associated with said driven member for switching said contacts between first and second switching states as said driven member is rotated through a switching zone,
lost motion means coupling said drive member in driving relation to said driven member, said drive member being adapted to take up the lost motion distance upon reversal of its direction of rotation, and
bidirectional means responsive to said drive member reaching a predetermined rotational position for accelerating said drive member and thereby imparting a snap-action motion to said driven member as it traverses said switching zone.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reversible snap-action switch with cam operator and lost motion structure

Life of this patent

Reversible snap-action switch with cam operator and lost motion structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28