Abstract: A rotary switch device in which fixed contacts are fixed to one face side of a base member made of a synthetic resin, contact plates in a ring shape are floatingly held by a rotor disposed opposed to the one face side of the base member, movable contacts capable switching the connection and disconnection to and from the fixed contacts in accordance with the rotation of the rotor are integrally formed at a plurality of places spaced from each other at circumferential intervals on the contact plates, and sliding faces capable of being brought into slide contact with the movable contacts are formed on the one face of the rotor side of the base member, along a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotor. The sliding faces are formed in the base member so as to avoid the loci which are drawn by portions of the movable contacts to be brought into slide contact with the fixed contacts in accordance with the rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A rotation detecting device which issues a plurality of code signals by a simple configuration so as to detect the rotational angle position and the direction of rotation of a rotor according to the code signals. The rotation detecting device has a knob member which is rotatably attached to a part of an enclosure, a plurality of projections which are formed on the periphery of one end of the knob member, and two detection switches which selectively engage with the projections to turn ON/OFF and issue signals. These detection switches are disposed on a printed circuit board in such a manner that they turn ON/OFF at different timings as the knob member rotates. Thus, the rotational position and the direction of rotation of the knob member are detected by the combinations of the ON/OFF signals of the detection switches.

Abstract: A rotary switch includes an insulative first housing with first and second terminals, and an insulative second housing. The first housing has a top wall with an axial hole formed therein, a bottom wall with a socket-like cavity formed therein, an upright side wall lateral to the top wall, and a shaft journalled in the axial hole to rotate stepwise relative to the top wall. The first terminals have first connecting end portions extending outwardly of the upright side wall. The second terminals have second connecting end portions extending axially from the axial hole and outwardly of the bottom wall at a distal end thereof relative to the upright side wall. The second connecting end portions are longer than the first connecting end portion so that each of the second connecting end portion forms a protracted intermediate segment and a connecting end segment for electrical connection. The second housing is molded around portions of the protracted intermediate segments of the second terminals.

Abstract: This invention provides a conductive spindle assembly of a pull switch which has an insulation spindle within which is formed three recesses in a periphery of the insulation spindle. A conductive collar is provided for matingly engaging with the insulation spindle. The conductive collar has a conductive base portion and three vertically extending conductive contact tabs. The first and second of the contact tabs extend vertically from a periphery of the base portion and have a first vertical extension height. The third contact tab extends vertically from the base portion and has a second vertical extension height greater than the vertical extension height of the first and second contact tabs. Each of the three tabs is insertable within the recesses of the insulation spindle in a manner providing for the periphery of the spindle assembly to have a substantially continuous cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed switch with multiple switching positions comprises an actuator welded or soldered to a metallic diaphragm. The diaphragm is in turn welded or soldered to the inner walls of the switch housing. The diaphragm is flexible and allows the actuator to pivot about the welded portion. The pivoting motion causes rotation at each end of the actuator. Therefore, if one end of the actuator is rotated, the other end will similarly rotate about while the weld between the actuator and the diaphragm remains intact. The sealed end of the actuator is inserted into a rotor. The rotor has a metal piece which rotates in a circular manner and couples individual contacts to a common electrical ground. Each contact represents a different switch setting. As the metal piece of the rotor couples the contact with the ground, current is allowed to flow between the two and the setting represented by the contact is selected. Electrical leads couple the contacts and the ground to the sealed host device.

Abstract: An electrical rotary switch in use with an automatic transmission for detecting the operative position of the transmission and controlling an electric circuit associated with the positions of the transmission. The switch comprises a switch casing composed of a base plate and a cover plate each formed of an electrically insulating material and provided in its interior surface with a plurality of fixed contacts. Supported between the base plate and the cover plate is an actuator which is rotatable about a rotation axis in response to the changing positions of the automatic transmission. The actuator has a coupling end to be interlocked with a control output shaft of the transmission which is provided to rotate in synchronism with changing positions of the transmission.

Abstract: A novel rotary switch includes metal contact segments integrally molded into annular plastic frame members which segments are then further sealed to prevent passage of flux or other contaminants from reaching the interior of the switch. Further, each contact segment has an arcuate interior contact portion which engages a rotating bridging member on the inner periphery of the arcuate surface. The arcuate segments are spaced together so that the bridging member that conducts signals to the arcuate surface never contacts a plastic surface. A toothed member is provided to cam the bridging member out of contact with one contact segment before making contact with the next adjacent contact segment.

Abstract: An electric switch including a stator with a plurality of contact studs, a shaft moving inside the stator and having at least one contact stud cooperting with the studs of the stator and a connector comprising a plurality of juxtaposed pins with each pin connected to one of the contact studs of the stator. The connector is fixed against the stator, the pins being disposed at the periphery of the connector so that they surround the stator with each pin extending along the stator and the arrangement of the studs on the stator and that of the pins on the connector is such that one end of each pin faces the corresponding stud and is fixed thereto.

Abstract: An electromagnetic projectile launcher is provided with a firing switch which alternately opens and closes to repeatedly commutate current from a high current supply to a pair of projectile launching rails. A rotor having a transverse conducting element is rotated within and moved axially along a cylindrical stator. Brush members which have widths which decrease in an axial direction along the stator are shorted by the conducting element between shots for varying lengths of time as the rotor travels axially along the stator.

Abstract: A rotary switch is disclosed having an integral mechanical structure for controlling internal contamination from soldering flux residue introduced during switch wiring process. The rotary switch includes an internal collector plate having an input terminal extending to the outside through the switch housing for a solder type input wire. The collector plate includes a mechanical flux controlling structure to restrict and/or trap the excess of the solder flux residue to an electrically neutral area of the switch.

Abstract: A switch having a carriage with a pair of substantially opposite sides and a contact surface of conductive parts facing one of the sides and a reaction surface facing the other of the sides in spaced relation therewith, and wherein the carriage is movable relative to and substantially parallel with the contact surface and the reaction surface, and has an improved contact mechanism carried by the carriage. The carriage has plural openings extending therethrough perpendicular to the contact surface and the reaction surface. The contact mechanism comprises a respective plurality of plungers, springs, conductive contact members and a common conductive retainer. Each contact member is slidably disposed in a respective one of the carriage openings and is adapted for engagement with the contact surface. Each spring is interposed in compression between a respective contact member and a respective plunger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switching device for use in a series loop circuit, and more particularly to a switching device for uncoupling defective circuit components from the series loop circuit, for conducting quick trouble-shooting procedures to locate breaks or shorts in the circuit, and for enabling efficient preventive maintenance programs of the circuit components in order to keep them in good repair, with minimal shutdown time of the circuit or interruption in the supply of power to remaining circuit components. The device according to the invention includes a multi-position selector switch which permits in-situ testing of the circuit components so that down-time of the circuit is significantly reduced, and ease of maintenance is enhanced.

Abstract: An electrical rotary switch includes a single support housing (18) for rotation about a base (12). The base (12) is a circuit board which includes an opening (16) through which the housing (18) is secured to the base. A pair of contact pads (14) extend radially away from the opening (16) on the base (12). The housing (18) includes a cavity (34) facing the base (12). A conductive roller (38) is located in the cavity (34) for rolling over the pair of contact pads (14) to establish an electrical connection. The switch is characterized by a fulcrum ridge (40) extending from the housing (18) into the cavity (34) for allowing the roller (38) to rock in case a bump is incurred in the contact pads (14) to ensure an electrical connection.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a rotor switch. The rotor switch consists of a rotor device positioned between a pair of printed circuit boards. One printed circuit board having conductive pads, coupled to the output of the switch, and the other board having a conductive strip, coupled to the input of the switch. A conductive spring, or similar conductor, is disposed through the rotor to couple one of the conductive pads to the conductive strip. A housing having a retainer that fits into exterior notches located in the printed circuit boards and the rotor acts to secure the rotor in place when rotational forces are exerted on the switch.

Abstract: A rotary switch having a plurality of outputs energized according to a prearranged pattern during rotation of a shaft of the switch includes first and second switch boards spaced apart and having respective contact portions formed on the facing surfaces thereof. The contact portions of the first board include an arcuate collector and a plurality of fixed contacts arranged in a predetermined pattern, and the second board includes a plurality of fixed contacts arranged in a predetermined pattern. A slider is held rotatively between the switch boards and has two pairs of electrically-connected conductive arms with a respective pair of conductive arms extending towards the contact portions of each board. In this way, each of the fixed contacts can be connected electrically with the arcuate collector in a predetermined pattern as the slider is rotated.

Abstract: An improvement for retaining wire type contacts of a rotary switch in position upon a stator to facilitate assembly during manufacture. In lieu of previously employed glued or heat sealed construction, the improvement is provided with a resiliently expandable periphery which engages an annular shoulder on the stator element without resort to the use of tools or adhesives.

Abstract: Rotary switch includes a dielectric rotor with die cast conductive circuit paths therein which connect various surface contacts thereon. Rotor comprises first and second dielectric disc members facing internal surfaces which are sandwiched together. Internal surface on first disc member has channels therein which communicate with opposed surface via four circles of holes through the disc member. Holes through second disc member communicate between internal surface thereof and two circular bus channels on opposed surface. Metal die cast into sandwiched disc members forms inner circuit paths and surface contacts. Finished rotor is placed in housing with fixed contacts which make contact with different sets of surface contacts as rotor is rotated incrementally relative to housing. Two fixed contacts remain in contact with respective bus channels regardless of incremental position of rotor.

Abstract: An improved terminal pin and mounting construction therefor, for use in multicontact switches using flexible wire type contacts mounted upon a stator element, the contacts being bridged by corresponding contacts on a coaxially mounted rotor element. The mounting utilizes improved flexibility of the contact portion of each of the pins to lessen the stress placed upon the fixed mounting portion thereof.

Abstract: The cylindrical rotor of a switch for switching very large DC currents has a conducting element extending arcuately over a portion of its cylindrical surface and axially therealong. Two stationary brush members extend radially inward toward and axially along and are in sliding electrical contact with the cylindrical rotor surface. An arc chamber formed in the insulation between the brush members and extending arcuately around the rotor from one of the brush members accommodates the massive arc which is drawn as the rotor is rotated from a first position in which the conducting element shorts the brush members and conducts therebetween the very large current applied to the brush members and a second position in which contact between the rotor conducting element and the one brush member is broken. In one embodiment of the invention, the rotor conducting element shorts the second brush member to a third when the rotor is in the second position.

Abstract: A multipole type switch for switching a relatively large plurality of independent circuits from one set of contacts to a second set of contacts by manual or remote operation using a solenoid or linear actuator. The switch utilizes as contacts a simple wire form cantilevered for compliance at one end, and free to move laterally at an opposite end. A plurality of bridging contacts properly sized and plated shorts adjacent pairs of wires together when the contacts move in a rectilinear or arcuate path of motion, causing the wires to laterally deflect, and causing the contacts to bridge pairs of adjacent wires to complete a circuit between them. Insulative members are positioned in the gaps between the wire contacts to limit the degree of flexing of the wires to unitary planes during movement of the bridging contacts.

Abstract: A rotary switch which is provided with circuit or terminal member molded in an electrically insulating base plate and extending out from through-holes formed in the base plate, with the ends of the terminal member being formed into protrusions or stationary contacts for direct contact with the movable electrode of a rotor member of the rotary switch so as to make it possible to provide various contact circuit constructions, and also to prevent occurrence of poor contact and generation of static electricity. The rotary switch of the present invention is further provided with an improved detent mechanism for a rotary shaft to achieve smooth rotation and accurate functioning of the rotary switch during operation.

Abstract: A person's memory of sequences is tested by shifting a relationship between switches and colored lights which they control. Switches in a row light colored lamps in a fixed sequence. A two part circular switch with opposed contacts equal in number to the switches or colors may be turned to shift the sequence of colors which the switches control. One part of the circular switch may be inverted so that the sequence of colors controlled by the switches may be reversed and may be shifted in reversed order. Inserts positioned between the two parts of the circular switch change the sequential relationships of colored lights and switches.

Abstract: The switch comprises a stator which is rigidly secured to a lock cylinder case and a rotor which is rigidly fixed to a lock cylinder. The rotor rotates within the stator which has two concentric and partially overlapping circular arc conductors. The rotor drives an elliptical slip ring in a groove between the conductors and between one of the conductors and a slide surface where the conductors do not overlap. The frictional connection between the conductors and the slip ring holds the slip ring from being fully drawn out of contact with both conductors when the locking cyclinder is turned from closed to neutral position and holds the slip ring from being drawn into contact with both conductors when the locking cylinder is turned from open to neutral position.

Abstract: An electric switch assembly having at least one movable contact element and a plurality of fixed contact elements. The movable contact element can electrically connect at least one of the fixed contact elements to any one of the remaining fixed contacts. The electric switch assembly herein disclosed utilizes intermediate contact pieces each adapted to connect one of the fixed contact elements to the movable contact element therethrough and also to connect the movable contact element to any one of the fixed contact element.

Abstract: A rotary switch includes a stator, rotor and shaft for the rotor. The stator has a complex conductive matrix formed of criss-crossing conductive sections integrally joined together and integral with a central annular ring. The annular ring in turn has radially inwardly-extending switch sections. There is a non-conductive support member for the matrix, with the matrix and support member having respective and cooperating openings and projections for positioning the matrix on the support member. The rotor has a plurality of pockets with contact members positioned in at least one of the pockets and arranged for electrical contact with portions of said matrix.

Abstract: An extremely small time-setting switch adapted for mounting in a hole in the case of an electronic watch and having a coin slot whereby it may be rotated to any one of a plurality of operating positions including a "run" position, a "stop" position, a "minutes change" position, and an "hours change" position. The switch is provided with a generally annular detent structure affording clearance at its middle for the movable contact and affording a better feel including an audible click when rotated into each of its several operating positions and the stationary parts of the switch are locked to one another to prevent movement when the rotary knob is turned in a structure affording an extremely thin, flat package adapted to be staked into the watch case.