Switch contact mechanism
AssigneeRockwell Technologies, LLC
InventorsFrank J. Graninger, Richard M. Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch assembly is provided that comprises a switch having a normally open contact and a normally closed contact which is electrically connected to the normally open contact and which is located either within the same housing as the normally open contact or a separate housing. The housing(s) may be mounted onto a latch assembly which, in turn, is mounted onto a switch operator, thereby closing the normally open contact. If the latch assembly becomes mechanically disengaged from the switch operator, thereby rendering the normally closed contact non-operational, the normally open contact will open, thereby opening the circuit to a machine performing a controlled function. The user, noticing the stoppage of operation, will then be alerted of a malfunction within the switch assembly.
Claims22
A switch assembly for monitoring a control function comprising:
- a switch operator;
- a normally closed set of contacts disposed within said housing;
- and
- a normally open set of contacts electrically connected to said normally closed set of contacts:
- a housing interfitting with said switch operator and supporting said normally open and normally closed sets of contacts;
- and
- a linkage at least partially supported within the housing and configured to open said normally open set of contacts when the housing becomes mechanically disconnected from the switch operator.
A method of monitoring a control circuit comprising:
- electrically connecting a normally open set of contacts to a normally closed set of contacts;
- and
- placing said normally open set of contacts and said normally closed set of contacts in mechanical communication with a switch operator and each other. wherein said switch operator is closes said normally open set of contacts during said placing step, and wherein
- disengaging said normally closed set of contacts from the switch operator disengages said normally open set of contacts from said switch operator so as to open said normally open set of contacts.
A switch assembly for monitoring a control circuit comprising:
- a housing mechanically connected to a switch operator;
- a normally closed set of contacts disposed within said housing;
- a normally open set of contacts electrically connected to said normally closed set of contacts and disposed within said housing;
- and
- a plunger at least partially disposed within said housing an in mechanical communication with said normally open set of contacts, wherein said plunger is depressed from a normal position to a depressed position, and wherein said plunger closes said normally open set of contacts when in the depressed position thereof whenever said housing is connected to the switch operator so as to place said plunger and operator in mechanical communication, and wherein said plunger returns to said normal position and opens said normally open set of contacts whenever said housing becomes mechanically disconnected from the switch operator.
A switch for monitoring a control circuit comprising:
- a first housing connected to a switch operator;
- a normally closed set of contacts disposed within said first housing;
- a second housing connected to said switch operator;
- a normally open set of contacts disposed within said second housing and electrically connected to said normally closed set of contacts;
- and
- a plunger at least partially disposed within said second housing, wherein said plunger is depressed from a normal position to a depressed position and closes said normally open set of contacts whenever said second housing is mechanically connected to said switch operator so as to place said plunger and operator in mechanical communication, and wherein said plunger returns to said normal position and opens said normally open set of contacts whenever said housing becomes mechanically disconnected from said switch operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.