Abstract: An assortment of lock washers is produced from a method including the steps of (a) providing a plurality of blanks formed of generally planar resilient metal, some of the blanks having a different configuration from other of the blanks, each of the blanks including a central aperture, an outer periphery, a tab, and two locating holes spaced from the central aperture and spaced from each other a selected distance and at a selected orientation relative to the tab; (b) providing a tool having two locator pins and structure for bending a tab out of the plane of a blank; (c) orientating the two locating pins with the two locating holes of a selected blank; (d) actuating the tool to bend the tab of the selected blank out of the plane of the selected blank; and (e) repeating steps (c)-(d) for each of the blanks.

Abstract: A programmable switch includes a housing. A sensor is associated with the housing. The sensor senses a measurable physical property of a sensed element proximate the housing and developing an electrical signal varying relative thereto to represent the sensed physical property. A logic circuit is disposed in the housing and receives the electrical signal. The logic circuit includes a memory for storing a reference value and a controller for comparing the reference value to the sensed physical property to determine status of the sensed physical property. An input circuit is operatively associated with the logic circuit for selectively changing the stored reference value to reprogram the switch. An output switch is operatively associated with the logic circuit to externally indicate status of the sensed property.

Abstract: Corrosion, loosening and reusability problems incurred with prior art lock washers are eliminated in a lock washer having a planar washer body (10) formed of a thin sheet of resilient metal. A central aperture (18) is locate in the body (10) and is adapted to receive the shank (42) of a bolt to which a nut (40) is to be attached and locked. First and second lock tabs (14), (16) are formed in the body (10) radially outward of the central aperture (18) and are the sole lock tabs on the body (10). Each of the tabs (14), (16), has a radially inwardly facing, straight free edge (30) displaced to one side of the plane of the body (10). Each of the edges (30) is transverse to a radius of the body (10) and the lock tabs (14), (16) are angularly spaced by more than 90.degree. and less than 180.degree. such that when one free edge 30 is engaging the flat (50) of a nut (40), the other free edge (30) will be underlying a point (52) of the nut (40), between two adjacent flats (50) thereof.

Abstract: Complexity and unreliability in a mounting structure for a switch (40) used to sense the position of another object is avoided in a switch and mounting structure that includes a switch body (46) with a movable switch plunger (48) extending from one end (50) of the body (46). The body (46) has an outwardly opening groove (52) and a mounting bracket (44) is adapted to be secured to a desired object (70). The mounting bracket (42) has a base section (98) for mounting purposes and two spaced legs (100,102) extending therefrom. A relatively large hole (76) is in one of the legs (102) and sized to receive the switch body (46) while a relatively small hole (78) is in the other of the legs (100) and sized to slidably receive the plunger (48). A resilient lock ring (44) is located in the groove (52) and in abutment with one of the legs (102) to hold the end (50) in firm abutment with the other of the legs (100) thereby securely mounting the switch body (46).

Abstract: A switch actuator includes a base and a plunger mounted for movement on the base. An electrical contact is mounted for relative movement on the base to establish an electrical connection. An actuator includes a head portion and a pair of spring arms. The spring arms extend into a bore in the plunger for frictionally grasping the plunger by spring biased forces against the interior walls of the bore. The actuator has a head portion exposed from an open end of the plunger bore for effecting movement of the electrical contact to alter the state of the electrical connection. The frictional engagement between the spring arms and the plunger provide overtravel or relative movement therebetween and the affect of the spring arms substantially eliminates any affect from wear between the plunger and the actuator.

Abstract: A switch actuator includes a base and a plunger mounted for movement on the base. An electrical contact is mounted for relative movement on the base to establish an electrical connection. An actuator assembly is mounted for movement on the base and is operatively associated with the plunger for effecting movement of the electrical contact to alter the state of the electrical connection. The actuator includes a pair of relatively movable members with a wedge member therebetween. The wedge member is effective to cause conjoint movement of the movable members and to allow relative overtravel movement between the members. The relationship between the electrical contact and the actuator assembly is adjustable to vary the movement differential of the switch actuator.

Abstract: A switch actuator provides a floating release point switch assembly, including a base. An electrical contact on the base establishes an electrical connection. A movable bidrectional cam, in the form of a helix, is operatively associated with the electrical contact to alter the state of the electrical connection in response to movement of the cam in a given direction. An actuator is mounted for movement on the base and is operatively associated with the bidirectional cam for moving the cam in a given direction. A lost motion mechanism is independent of the bidirectional cam and is operatively associated between the cam and the actuator to allow the actuator to overtravel the cam after the state of the electrical connection is altered.