Sealed proximity switch assembly
AssigneeBeta Mfg. Co.
InventorJack B. Meister
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sealed proximity switch assembly comprising a housing of non-magnetic material, contacts mounted in the housing, a movable contact member of electrically conductive material mounted within the housing for movement toward and away from engagement with the contacts, a spring yieldingly urging the contact member into engagement with the contacts, and a magnet within the housing and connected to the contact member such that when a portion of a movable member is in proximity with the housing, the magnet is attracted toward the portion moving the contact member out of engagement with the contacts.
Claims19
A sealed proximity switch assembly comprising
- a closed housing of non-magnetic material,
- said housing having a side wall, an outer end wall and an inner end wall,
- a plurality of contacts mounted in said inner wall of said housing and extending into said housing,
- a movable contact member of electrically conductive material mounted within said housing and guided therein for movement toward and away from engagement with said contacts,
- a permanent magnet within said housing and connected to said contact member,
- a spring in said housing yieldingly normally urging said magnet and said contact member in one position relative to said contacts,
- such that when the switch assembly is supported so that a ferromagnetic member is in proximity with the outer end wall of said housing, the magnet is attracted toward the ferromagnetic member moving the contact member to a second position relative to said contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.