Abstract: A process is provided for characterizing a tactile response of a first mechanical actuator (e.g., button) based on a back off distance. The first mechanical actuator may include a plunger, a dome-shaped flexible membrane, and an electrical contact, all aligned with each other so that a contact signal is generated when the flexible membrane touches the contact. The plunger can be moved a first distance towards the contact until the contact signal is generated at a contact point. Then the plunger can be backed off a second distance from the contact point. This second distance may be called the “back off distance”. The particular feel of the first mechanical actuator can then be correlated to a particular back off distance. This process can be repeated a number of times to classify a number of different “feels” for the first mechanical actuator based on a number of different back off distances.

Abstract: A process is provided for characterizing a tactile response of a first mechanical actuator (e.g., button) based on a back off distance. The first mechanical actuator may include a plunger, a dome-shaped flexible membrane, and an electrical contact, all aligned with each other so that a contact signal is generated when the flexible membrane touches the contact. The plunger can be moved a first distance towards the contact until the contact signal is generated at a contact point. Then the plunger can be backed off a second distance from the contact point. This second distance may be called the “back off distance”. The particular feel of the first mechanical actuator can then be correlated to a particular back off distance. This process can be repeated a number of times to classify a number of different “feels” for the first mechanical actuator based on a number of different back off distances.

Abstract: A pivot assembly (24) is movably connected to a balance beam (22) between a first and second balancing area (34, 36). The pivot assembly (24) defines a pivot axis (B) being movable relative to a center axis (A0) to define a first variable pivot distance (Pd1) and a second variable pivot distance (Pd2) for proportioning a first and second component according to the concurrently and inversely variable first and second pivot distances (Pd1, Pd2). The balance beam (22) presents a proportioning scale (60) which includes a plurality of identical ratios (62) in scale of the first variable pivot distance (Pd1) to the second variable pivot distance (Pd2) for aligning the pivot assembly (24) with a desired ratio of the first and second components. A first and second pair of retainer walls (38, 40) extend upwardly from the respective balancing areas (34, 36) and diverge from one another for abutting and centering a variety of container sizes on the respective balancing areas (34, 36).

Abstract: A movable contacting device in a circuit breaker comprises: a crossbar linked with the opening/closing mechanism and carried so as to pivot cooperatively with the opening/closing mechanism; a movable contact arm engaged, so as to cooperational with the crossbar, with a shaft fitted into a mutually opposing recesses in the crossbar; and a movable contact arm support fixed to the case accomodating the opening/closing mechanism and having mutually opposing through-holes through which the shaft is passed; and the movable contact being configured so that the movable contact slides between surfaces of movable contact arm support having the mutually opposing through-holes; and the construction of a single-pole portion of the movable contact arm is constituted by arranging in parallel two movable contact arm members each having a movable contact at one end, and in a shaft-supporting portion at the other end, an elastic member is sandwiched between the two movable contact arm members.

Abstract: A limit switch sealing a non-contact type microswitch has a stainless steel actuator lever subjected to nitriding processing which is cantilever supported on a housing upper portion by a plate spring made of polyimide. A non-contact type microswitch stored inside a housing cavity is slightly adjusted for upward and downward positions by a screw mechanism, and after that, is sealed inside the cavity by the filler such as silicon rubber and the like. A piston which transmits the movement of the actuator lever to the microswitch is supported air tight by the housing at the center of a flat conical bellows, and the limit switch including a return coil spring is highly sensitive, and is excellent in water resistance, oil resistance, abrasion resistance and durability.

Abstract: A connector is adapted to connect electric wire to a switch. The connector includes an insulation block and at least one plug. The insulation block has a top, an attachment face and a rear face. Prong holes are defined in the attachment face and adapted to receive prongs of the switch. Positioning holes corresponding to one of the at least one plugs are defined in the insulation block from the attachment face to the rear face respectively. A conductor hole is defined in the insulation block at the top and communicates with adjacent positioning holes and prong holes. A conductor of the electric wire is inserted into the conductor hole. The conductor is pressed against the prong in the prong hole.

Abstract: A method of adjusting an electrical switch arrangement comprising a pair of electrical contact members to a predetermined contact spacing is suggested. A first one of the contact members is associated with a first contact carrier and a second one of the contact members is associated with a second contact carrier. The first and second contact members are normally spaced from each other by the predetermined contact distance and are movable relative to each other across the contact distance. At least one of the contact members is displaceably held on the associated contact carrier. The contact carriers are moved towards each other across the predetermined contact distance. The one of the contact members is displaced relative to the associated contact carrier into physical contact with the other of the contact members. The one contact member is fixed in position on the associated contact member while physically contacting the other of the contact members.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric switch (1) with a contact system (9) which consists of at least one fixed contact (10, 11) and of a movable contact tongue (12). A movable actuating member (5) is operatively connected to the contact tongue (12) for changing over the contact system (9). The contact tongue (12) is arranged on a bearing (18) designed in the manner of a knife-edge bearing. The switch point of the contact system (9) is adjustable by the shift of part of the contact system (9) in the direction of movement (20, 20′) of the actuating member (5), in that the bearing (18) and/or the fixed contact (10, 11) and/or the contact tongue (12) is capable of being set in the direction of movement (20, 20′) of the actuating member (5). In order to adjust the switch point of the contact system (9), part of the actuating member (5) may also be capable of being set in the direction of movement (20, 20′) of said actuating member (5).

Abstract: A contact-unit slide for contractors which includes an insulating body in which windows are drilled wherein in each of these windows a contact bridge and a compression spring associated with the contacts are housed, the slide being moved by the mobile parts of the contactor's electromagnet, the spring bearing on the opposite side of the support surface adjacent to the contact bridge. The body has slots extending between a window and a visible surface to allow it to be supported on the upper end of the associated spring.

Abstract: A push-button switch includes a base, a cover and a button subassembly. The button subassembly attaches to the underside of and extends through an opening of the cover. The cover includes tabs that extend from each side with a locking element further extending from an inner surface of each tab that engages slots in the base to hold the base and cover together. The switch can include different length fixed contacts and rivets in place of contact pads. The contacts can include the fixed contacts extending in parallel horizontal planes and the same or spaced transverse planes. The switch can also employ a pivot arm and an adjustable member to control the gap between the fixed contacts and moveable contacts.

Abstract: A contact carrying portion of a plunger assembly is adjusted linearly in the direction of switch operating movement by a rotatable cam in the plunger assembly to change an initial gap dimension between stationary and movable contacts. The cam is rotatable about an axis parallel to the direction of switch operating movement and comprises a plurality of angularly spaced diametrically oriented grooves, each of a different depth, in an end surface cooperating with a diametrically disposed rib on the contact carrying portion to vary the axial length of the plunger assembly and provide a detent for the cam adjustment. A housing is provided with a window through a lateral wall for accessing slots in the cam to rotate the cam. The pushbutton switch is resiliently disposed in a supplementary housing to accommodate significant overtravel of a switch operating element.

Abstract: There is a pair of cantilevered switch blades having cooperating electrical contacts mounted on their distal ends. The first blade follows a cam and the second is lifted by a pivotable ramp member to vary the distance between its contact and the cam, thereby varying the time the switch is closed. The switch controls a solenoid which controls the water flow to the icemaker tray, thus the size of the ice "cubes" is determined by the distance the second blade is lifted. The blade slides on the ramp as it is lifted so that the range of motion of the pivotable member is greater than the range of motion of the blade. The ramp is shaped so that equal amounts of movements of the pivotable member corresponds to equal increments of ice volume. A spring finger integrally formed with the ramp member cooperates with a notched member to provide a set of predetermined ice "cube" increments. The switch is one of a gang of blade switches that control icemaker functions.

Abstract: A switching device for producing a signal in response to small movements between two portions of a surface including a movable member within a housing, the movable member being biased towards a first position by resilient yet deformable means connected to the housing. A first surface attachment means is connected to the movable member and extends outside of the housing for attachment to the surface. A second surface attachment means is mounted directly to the housing and is attachable to the surface. A switch means responsive to sufficient movement of the movable member away from its first position is mounted within the housing adjacent to and in the path of the movable member. The switch means is electrically connected to circuitry which can utilize the switching action of the switch means which occurs when the surface is moved in such a way that the first and second surface attachment means move with respect to one another, thereby moving the movable member to operate the switch means.

Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an adjustable stationary lower electrical contact having a one-piece formed conductive contact and a separately formed spacer bracket. One longitudinal end of the formed contact forms an external electrical terminal of the circuit breaker. The formed contact also includes a base portion and a stationary contact arm that has a contact for physically and electrically contacting a movable upper electrical contact of the circuit breaker fixedly secured at its other longitudinal end. The spacer bracket includes a base portion spaced above the base portion of the formed contact by a plurality of deflectable legs. The spacer bracket also includes a contact support portion fixedly secured to the underside of the stationary contact arm. A threaded aperture is formed through the base portion of the spacer bracket for the receipt of a mounting screw.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a predetermined limit of deflection or stress of a load bearing means or beam such as a walking beam of an oil well pumping unit uses a spaced fixed arm mounted on said beam at one end and having a first sensor means attached near the other end with a second sensor mounted on said beam so that said beam deflects to produce a signal which can be used to sound an alarm or operate control means to relieve stress of said beam.

Abstract: A multi-pole switch characterized by spaced sets of stationary and movable contacts, mounting means for the movable contacts comprising a common contact operating shaft rotatable between open and closed positions of the contacts, the mounting means for each movable contact comprising a bracket operatively mounted on the operating shaft and having releasable means for retaining one contact at one position spaced from an adjacent contact, the bracket including means for releasably retaining one movable contact in one position laterally spaced from an adjacent contact, the mounting means also comprising a unitary insulating base mounted on the shaft and having spaced mounting stations for the movable contacts, and mounting means comprising interfitting releasable members for adjusting the lateral spacing between adjacent movable contacts.

Abstract: An improved snap action switch wherein a snap action blade (30), that moves a contact carrying leaf spring (40), includes a latch (31) that mates with a notch (41) in the leaf spring member to eliminate the "teasing" effect normally associated with opening and closing a snap action switch.

Abstract: A double throw electrical switch construction having a housing carrying a movable actuator unit for moving a snap switch blade of the housing over center to snap a contact portion of the blade between a pair of spaced contact stops carried by the housing with a contact force being sustained at the "trip point" of the switch construction by an actuator spring of the actuator unit being moved over center before the blade is moved over center by the snap movement of the actuator spring. The actuator unit includes an actuator plunger having lost motion means directly acting against the actuator spring whereby the actuator spring can move relative to the actuator plunger through the lost motion means thereof when the actuator plunger moves the actuator spring over center in either direction thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are a switch structure and a calibration technique that facilitate the rapid and substantially automatic calibration of a switch of the type that responds to changes in an environmental parameter (e.g., a thermostatic switch). An abutment member (which will serve as the calibrated stop) is supported for preliminary movement with a switch movable member (e.g., a bimetallic arm) and is supported in a bracket which is capable of gripping the abutment member but which is initially prevented from doing so by the action of a member that stresses the bracket. The last-mentioned member is deformable (e.g., it melts) at a desired value of the environmental parameter, thereby resulting in the bracket gripping the abutment member (which then defines a stop for the switch's movable member).

Abstract: An ignition distributor for use in an internal combustion engine, the distributor having in known manner a fixed contact and a movable contact wherein there is provided a support for the fixed contact having a housing which contains a nut threadably engaged with an adjustment screw whereby angular divergence is permitted between the screw and said support for the fixed contact when the screw is rotated.

Abstract: An adjustment system incorporated into the distributor of an internal combustion engine for manually adjusting the points of the distributor from the exterior thereof thereby enabling the points to be adjusted while the engine is operating. The adjustment mechanism involves the use of a stationary bracket mounted on the conventional mounting screw for the distributor point mounting plate and a movable bracket engaged with the distributor contact point mounted stationarily on the mounting plate for adjusting the distributor point and associated portion of the mounting plate and a screw threaded member being located and journaled on the stationary bracket connected to the mounting screw and in screw threaded engagement with the movable bracket for varying the position of the distributor points.

Abstract: The relay contact adjusting arrangement of this invention involves the positioning of the header assembly and motor assembly of the relay in a fixed spaced relationship prior to final assembly, with the fixed and movable contacts in opposed pairs, and associated with an optical comparator so that enlarged images of the opposed contacts can be seen, after which adjusting tools are used to bend the supports of the fixed contacts for adjusting the spacing successively for each opposed pair of contacts to a spacing indicated on the screen of the comparator. The device includes a means for energizing the relay coil to hold the armature in a desired position while the adjustment takes place, and provides for the indexing of the assemblies through 180.degree. to allow both the normally open and normally closed contacts to be viewed on the comparator screen.