Switch having integral remote actuating device
AssigneeReliance Controls Corporation
InventorsNeil A. Czarnecki, Francis W. Camps, Ray C. Wojtak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A manually operable switch has an opening handle pivotally mounted on a housing for moving a set of contacts in the housing from one position to another. A force generating arrangement is mounted outside the switch housing, and a force translation system extends between the housing and the force generating arrangement. The force translation system has a first end structure movable into and out of contact with the operating handle, and a second end structure disposed for movement in the force generating arrangement.
Claims11
In a manually operable switch having an operating handle movably mounted on a housing for moving a set of contacts in the housing between off and on positions, the improvement comprising:
- a force generating arrangement mounted outside the switch housing;
- and
- a force translation system having a longitudinal axis extending between the housing and the force generating arrangement and having a first end structure linearly slidable along the longitudinal axis into and out of contact with the operating handle and a second end structure disposed for linear slidable movement along the longitudinal axis and inside the force generating arrangement.
A switch comprising:
- a housing having wall structure forded with at least one throughbore, and an operating handle pivotally mounted to the wall structure for manually moving a set of contacts in the housing from one position to another;
- a force generating device disposed externally of the housing;
- and
- at least one plunger movably mounted in the throughbore and having one end engageable with the operating handle and an opposite end engageable with the force generating device.
A manually operable switch which may be removably actuated comprising:
- a housing mounted in a support panel and having wall structure formed with a pair of spaced apart throughbores, and an operating handle with opposed ends pivotally mounted to the wall structure for moving a set of contacts from one portion to another, the opposed ends of the operating handle being aligned with the throughbores;
- a pair of force generating devices mounted exteriorly of the housing on a support structure;
- a pair of elongated plungers disposed for reciprocal movement in the throughbores, each plunger having a first end movable into and out of contact with one end of the operating handle, and a second end disposed for movement in one of the force generating devices;
- and
- a control structure disposed outside the housing and operably connected to the force generating devices to control actuation and deactuation thereof so as to move the plungers in a manner which will remotely pivot the operating handle.
A method of converting a manually operable switch to a remotely actuated switch, the switch having an operating handle movably mounted in a housing for moving a set of contracts from one position to another, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming the housing with a pair of throughbores, in alignment with opposite ends of each operating handle;
- providing a pair of force generating devices mounted outside the housing, each of the force generating devices having a plunger movably mounted therein with a first end receivable in one of the throughbores and movable into and out of engagement with an end of the operating handle, and a second end disposed for movement in the force generating device;
- inserting the plunger into the throughbores in the housing;
- and
- selectively actuating the force generating device so as to effect remote movement of the operating handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.