Microwave switch

A mechanical switch comprising:

• a housing;
• electrical connectors having connector ends thereof located within an open space defined by the housing;
• a first jumper supported at one end of a first slider, the first slider being movable between a closed position at which a pair of the connector ends are electrically connected together by the first jumper and an isolated position at which the pair of connector ends are not electrically connected together by the first jumper;
• a second jumper supported at one end of a second slider, the second slider being movable between a closed position at which a different pair of the connector ends are electrically connected together by the second jumper and an isolated position at which the different pair of connector ends are not electrically connected together by the second jumper;
• first and second spaced-apart dowel pins supported by the housing and slideably received in first and second slots, respectively, in the first slider, the first and second dowel pins engaging respective ends of the first and second slots when the first slider is in its closed position;
• third and fourth spaced-apart dowel pins supported by the housing and slidable received in third and fourth slots, respectively, in the second slider, the third and fourth dowel pins engaging respective ends of the third and fourth slots when the second slider is in its closed position;
• a spring extending between and engaging the first and second sliders such that the second slider is moved to its isolated position when the first slider is moved to its closed position and the first slider is moved to its isolated position when the second slider is moved to its close position;
• an armature pivotally supported about a pivot axis located intermediate first and second ends of the armature such that the first end of the armature is in rolling contact with and drives the first slider into its closed position and the second end of the armature is in rolling contact with and drives the second slider into its closed position;
• and
• magnetic drive means for magnetically rotating the armature about the pivot connection such that the first end of the armature drives the first slider into its closed position when the armature is rotated in one direction and the second end of the armature drives the second slider into its closed position when the armature is rotated in an opposite direction.

A mechanical switch comprising:

• a housing;
• electrical connectors having connector ends thereof located within an open space defined by the housing;
• a first jumper supported at one end of a first slider, the first slider being movable in a longitudinal direction between a closed position at which a pair of the connector ends are electrically connected together by the first jumper and an isolated position at which the pair of connector ends are not electrically connected together by the first jumper;
• a second jumper supported at one end of a second slider, the second slider being movable in the longitudinal direction between a closed position at which a different pair of the connector ends are electrically connected together by the second jumper and an isolated position at which the different pair of connector ends are not electrically connected together by the second jumper;
• first and second spaced-apart dowel pins supported by the housing and slideably received in first and second slots which extend in the longitudinal direction, respectively, in the first slider, the first and second dowel pins engaging respective longitudinal ends of the first and second slots when the first slider is in its closed position;
• third and fourth spaced-apart dowel pins supported by the housing and slideably received in third and fourth slots which extend in the longitudinal direction, respectively, in the second slider, the third and fourth dowel pins engaging respective longitudinal ends of the third and fourth slots when the second slider is in its closed position;
• spring means for moving the second slider to its isolated position when the first slider is moved to its closed position and for moving the first slider to its isolated position when the second slider is moved to its closed position;
• an armature pivotally supported about a pivot axis located intermediate first and second ends of the armature, the first end of the armature driving the first slider into its closed position and the second end of the armature driving the second slider into its closed position;
• magnetic drive means for magnetically rotating the armature about the pivot axis such that the first end of the armature drives the first slider into its closed position when the armature is rotated in one direction and the second end of the armature drives the second slider into its closed position when the armature is rotated in an opposite direction about the pivot axis;
• and
• each of the dowel pins being cylindrical with central axes thereof parallel to the pivot axis and each of the ends of slots being V-shaped and formed by a pair of angled surfaces which are parallel to the pivot axis.