Limit switch

A limit switch comprising:

• a frame member including a base portion and oppositely spaced sidewalls extending from said base portion;
• a lead screw shaft transversely supported by said sidewalls and adapted to be connected to a drive source for rotation relative to said frame member;
• first and second actuator discs threadably engaging said lead screw shaft in a normally spaced-apart relationship to each other, each of said first and second actuator discs having outer perimeter edges including a plurality of generally axial slots spaced about the circumference thereof;
• a guide plate mounted on said frame and positioned generally longitudinally along and spaced from said lead screw shaft, said guide plate including a leading edge portion movable between an engaged position with one of said axial slots on each of said first and second actuator discs, which thereby prevents rotation of said first and second actuator discs while permitting sliding movement of said engaged ones of said axial slots along said leading edge portion as said first and second actuator discs axially advance along said lead screw shaft in response to rotation of said lead screw shaft, and a disengaged position from all of said axial slots, which thereby permits independent rotation of each of said first and second actuator discs relative to said lead screw shaft to thereby individually position each of said first and second actuator discs axially along said lead screw shaft;
• a groove integral with said base portion and running longitudinally along the entirety thereof;
• a first and second runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said groove;
• locking means for individually selectively preventing the sliding movement of each of said first and second runner members along said groove and for freeing each of said first and second runner members for the sliding movement;
• and
• first switching means carried by said upper body portion of said first runner member and second switching means carried by said upper body portion of said second runner member, said first and second switching means being adjustably located in the path of axial movement of said peripheral edges of said first and second actuator discs for selective engagement therewith and disengagement therefrom, said first and second switching means further being independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from either of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said first switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said second switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said second actuator disc;
• and
• whereby each of said actuator discs and each of said switching means are independently adjustable upon said frame member to permit a wide range of operation for the limit switch.

A limit switch comprising:

• a frame member including an elongated extruded metallic base member having first and second generally sloping leg members thereby defining an inverted V-shaped form, said first and second leg members spaced oppositely along and equidistant to the axis of rotation of said lead screw shaft, each of said first and second leg members including an integral flanged foot running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic base member and making supportive contact with the ground, and oppositely spaced sidewalls attached on and extending upwardly from said metallic base member;
• a lead screw shaft transversely supported by said sidewalls and adapted to be connected to a drive source for rotation relative to said frame member;
• first and second actuator discs threadably engaging said lead screw shaft in a normally spaced-apart relationship to each other, each of said first and second actuator discs having outer perimeter edges including a plurality of generally axial slots spaced about the circumference thereof;
• a guide plate mounted on said frame and positioned generally longitudinally along and spaced from said lead screw shaft, said guide plate including a leading edge portion movable between an engaged position with one of said axial slots on each of said first and second actuator discs, which thereby prevents rotation of said first and second actuator discs while permitting sliding movement of said engaged ones of said axial slots along said leading edge portion as said first and second actuator discs axially advance along said lead screw shaft in response to rotation of said lead screw shaft, and a disengaged position from all of said axial slots, which thereby permits independent rotation of each of said first and second actuator discs relative to said lead screw shaft to thereby individually position each of said first and second actuator discs axially along said lead screw shaft;
• a first and second groove integral with and disposed longitudinally along, respectively, the entirety of said first and second leg members;
• a first and second runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said first groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said first groove;
• a third and a fourth runner member, each having a lower body portion slidably engaged with said second groove and an integral upper body portion extending outwardly beyond said second groove;
• locking means on each of said first, second, third and fourth runner members for selectively preventing sliding movement of the respective one of said runner members within the respective one of said grooves and for freeing said respective runner member for the sliding movement within said respective groove;
• first switching means carried by said upper body portion of said first runner member, second switching means carried by said upper body portion of said second runner member, said first and second switching means being adjustably located in the path of axial movement of said peripheral edges of said first and second actuator discs for selective engagement therewith and disengagement therefrom, said first and second switching means independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from either of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said first switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said second switching means being positioned for principal engagement with said second actuator disc;
• and
• third switching means carried by said upper body portion of said third runner member and fourth switching means carried by said upper body portion of said fourth runner member, said third and fourth switching means being located in the path of axial movement of said first and second actuator discs and independently operative for movement between a normally biased first switch position when disengaged from both of said peripheral edges and a second switch position when in engagement with one of said peripheral edges, said third switching means being located for principal engagement with said first actuator disc and said fourth switching means being located for principal engagement with said second actuator disc;
• and
• whereby each of said actuator discs and each of said switching means are independently adjustable upon said frame member to permit a wide range of operation for the limit switch.

A limit switch comprising:

• a frame member including a base portion and oppositely spaced sidewalls extending from said base portion;
• lead screw means transversely supported by said sidewalls and rotatable relative to said frame member;
• coupling means for connecting said lead screw means to a drive source for rotating said lead screw means;
• control means threadably engaged upon said lead screw means;
• retaining means operatively engaged with said control means for preventing rotation of said control means with said lead screw means while permitting axial advancement of said control means along said lead screw means in response to rotation of said lead screw means;
• a groove integral with said base portion, runner means for sliding engagement within said groove, and locking means for selectively preventing sliding movement of said runner means within said groove and for freeing said runner means for the sliding movement;
• and
• switching means carried by said runner means and located in the path of axial movement of said control means for operation between a first switch position and a second switch position in response to selective engagement with and disengagement from said control means.

A limit switch comprising:

• a frame member having a base portion including an elongated extruded metallic member having oppositely spaced sidewalls and two generally sloping leg members thereby defining an inverted V-shaped form for said base portion;
• lead screw means transversely supported by sidewalls and rotatable relative to said frame member;
• coupling means for connecting said lead screw means to a drive source for rotating said lead screw means;
• control means threadably engaged upon said lead screw means;
• retaining means operatively engaged with said control means for preventing rotation of said control means with said lead screw means while permitting axial advancement of said control means along said lead screw means in response to rotation of said lead screw means;
• a groove integral with each of said leg members running longitudinally along the entirety of said metallic member, runner means for sliding engagement with each of said grooves, locking means for selectively preventing sliding movement of each of said runner means within each of said grooves and for freeing each of said runner means for said movement;
• and
• switching means carried by said runner means and located in the path of axial advancement of said control means for operation between a first switch position and a second switch position in response to selective engagement with and disengagement from said control means.