Abstract: A switch comprises an envelope including a pressure increasing compartment filled with an arc extinguishing fluid. A slit extends through one longitudinal side of the envelope to communicate with the compartment. A movable contact member having a flat cross section normally extends through the slit to block substantially the slit until the movable member engages a stationary contact member outside of the slit. The arc extinguishing fluid increases in pressure in response to heat of an electric arc established across the separated contact member and delivered through the slit to be perpendicular to the arc axis.

Abstract: A high voltage ignition distributor having a plurality of removable spark plug terminals which, when mounted on the distributor, extend from the outside to the commutation cavity inside the distributor.

Abstract: The disclosed one piece self-locking switch contact member is arranged to mount on the handle of a printed circuit board. The switch member functions as a movable switch contact which is operable from the user's finger pressure to electrically connect together two test terminals located in an aperture of the handle. The switch member is made of a resilient dielectric material having an open loop end arranged for a snap-on lock mounting between the aperture and an edge of the handle. The other end of the switch member contains an electrical contact area and is cantilevered by the mounting to provide a resilient movement which permits contact with the test terminals when acted upon by finger pressure.

Abstract: A kit for making custom prototype membrane switch panels which includes a plurality of switch units and an overlay unit for integration and protection of said switch panels and indicia carried thereby.

Abstract: A labyrinth vent path is defined by the side walls of a mated cap and base of an ignition distributor. The vent path is biased open by a spring molded into the dielectric portion of the distributor rotor.

Abstract: A contact-sensing probe has a movable member including a stylus and is supported on a fixed member at two spaced-apart locations. At each location an a spherical element on the one member is situated between convergent surfaces of the other member. A spring urges the movable member into engagement with the fixed member so that at each location the element slides on the convergent surfaces and by virtue of the convergence thereof attains a positive rest position therebetween. The movable member is displaceable from the rest position against the force of the spring when a force is applied to the stylus and is returnable into the rest position by the spring. The elements and surfaces may be electrical contacts, displacement of the stylus being sensed by any one of the contacts being broken. Alternatively displacement is sensed by a proximity sensor.

Abstract: A dual switch apparatus has two switches simultaneously actuated in response to a single touch force where at least one of the switches has a pressure responsive variable contact resistance. A first support member has a first and a second conductor disposed thereon and a second support member has a third and a fourth conductor disposed thereon so that the first and third conductors and the second and fourth conductors have mirror image conductor patterns. A semiconducting composition layer is disposed to cover at least one of the four conductors. The first and second support members are positioned facing one another with the first and third conductors and the second and fourth conductors transversely aligned so that a transverse force causes the first and third conductors and the second and fourth conductors to move into electrically conducting relationship. A spacer maintains the first and second support members in normally spaced relationship.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle ignition-starter switch which is provided for the switching of a plurality of galvanically separated electric circuits. The switch wheel comprises lifting contact bridges, sliding contact bridges and a radially actuable slide with contact bridge. This slide cooperates simultaneously with the ignition repetitive catch.

Abstract: A plurality of arbitrarily loaded induction machines are operated from a single, controlled current inverter by regulating the amplitude of inverter output current in response to the average of the individual induction machine phase angles, the machine phase angle being the phase relationship magnitude between machine air gap flux and current, and by regulating the frequency of inverter output current in response to the average of the individual induction machine phase angle and the slip frequency of the most heavily loaded induction machine. The most heavily loaded induction machine is thus assured of having sufficient flux, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of machine pull-out and resultant inverter instability.

Abstract: A crash force sensor is disclosed which may be used to activate emergency location systems such as a transmitter or an inflatable aerial tethered balloon. The crash force sensor comprises a casing and a moveable seismic mass held within the casing. A plurality of friction pads and friction plates surround the mass in order to increase friction between the mass and the casing while allowing the mass the slide through said casing when a force of predetermined magnitude and direction is experienced. A pressure responsive means such as a spring extends between the mass and one end of the casing, and signal means is coupled to the mass to provide an indication of the pattern of force experienced by the sensor. The sensor may also include air damping means to impede the reaction of the mass to spring force after crash acceleration or deceleration has ceased.

Abstract: A pair of movable electrical contact blades are linked together through a lost motion linkage. An actuator means engages one of the blades to initially move it by itself. Subsequent movement of the actuator means moves both blades to selectively open and close electrical contacts carried by the blades and to open and close an electrical contact carried by a fixed contact blade.

Abstract: Switch actuating mechanism for use in a timing device. The mechanism is simple, easy to manufacture, and is reliable in operation. The mechanism is selectively adjustable to maintain the switch continuously ON, continuously OFF, or ON and OFF in response to time setting pins on a rotating time dial.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly of ganged push-button switches each movable between a first position and a latching position. The assembly is comprised of a first switch block and a second switch block connected thereto. The operation rod of each push-button switch is formed with a symmetrical cam portion engaging a single latch member common to both blocks of switches so that any switch previously locked into its latched position will be unlatched by the latch member upon actuation of any one of the switches.

Abstract: A gear train is connected to a motor carried in a housing and has an output member extending into another housing, the output member having at least one cam lobe. Electrical switch means carried in the second housing are responsive to the cam lobe.

Abstract: A vital incidental relative movement monitor assembly including a support member and a carrier ring member which is screw-threaded into the support member. The carrier ring member includes an apertured annular flange which is concentric with an apertured annular flange formed on the support member. An indexing wire is threaded through the apertured annular flanges for retaining a carrier ring member relative to the support member, and an electrical monitoring conductor also threaded through the apertured annular flanges for disrupting an electrical circuit when incidental relative movement occurs between the carrier ring member and the support member.

Abstract: Folded circuit switch apparatus includes multiple contacts responsive to a single switch capable of making contacts selectively with one or two switch elements at any particular time.

Abstract: A self-referencing position switch particularly adapted to respond to the position of an automobile gear shift lever. The switch is responsive to the position of a movable external member relative to a stationary member and includes a pair of housing sections one of which is attached to the stationary member and the other of which defines a track for a movable switch member which follows the movements of the external member and is arranged to close the switch at a selected location along the track. The two housing sections are movable relative to one another in more or less the direction of the track so that by engaging the movable switch member against one or the other end of the track and moving the housing sections relative to one another, the selected location on the track can be correlated with a selection position of the movable member.

Abstract: A high-voltage, blast-actuated power switch is disclosed in which field electrodes are included in order to prevent arcing within the switch after a bridge conductor has been blasted. The field electrodes are arranged coaxially about the bridge conductor, and are each electrically connected to one of two external connections. The field electrodes include opposing ends which are rounded and which are separated from each other by a distance which is smaller than the distance between the separated ends of the bridge conductor that are bent back onto internal elements of the external connections when the bridge conductor is blasted. The field electrodes tend to reduce the influence of the sharp edges formed on the separated ends of the bridge conductor when the bridge conductor is blasted, thereby increasing the breakdown voltage between the external connections and increasing the dielectric strength of the switch.

Abstract: A unitary structure is formed to function in a high voltage ignition distributor as a common high voltage conductor and a bearing mount for a rotor driveshaft.

Abstract: A gas-blast circuit-breaker which includes several groups of arc-extinguishing chambers, each group being supported by a support above a base, each support including firstly support pillars fixed at various points of the base and secondly a tubular column which is suitable for conveying the gas of the circuit-breaker and which extend to a single actuator which is integral with the base, these columns including links controlled by the actuator and connected to control rods for opening and closing the arc-extinguishing chambers.