Abstract: In a distributor for internal combustion engine, the rotor electrode is formed of a first electrode of a conductive metal, and a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode. The second electrode is formed of the mixture of fine particles of resistive and conductive materials. The first electrode is made in contact with the center carbon of the distributor, and the second electrode is opposed to the stationary electrode of the distributor. The minimum length from the discharge end surface of the second electrode to the first connection between the first and second electrodes is selected to be 5 mm or above.

Abstract: A flexible data entry keyboard is disclosed which is formed using a flexible substrate having conducting stripes and switch points thereon. The flexible substrate may be folded back on itself such that the switch points are facing one another in opposed complementary relation. An insulating substrate is positioned between the substrates and has a plurality of apertures in alignment with said switch points. To provide a long travel and high tactile feedback characteristic, an elastometer substrate is positioned over the top of said flexible substrate and has domes thereon which overlay each of said switch points. The domes have actuation surfaces on their underneath side such that when a force is applied to the dome, the dome is compressed and deformed against the switch points and the actuation surface ensures that a reliable and consistent contact is made.

Abstract: Two or more metal toggles, such as a bat or paddle can be alternatively assembled with a plastic actuator in an otherwise conventional toggle switch so that the bat type toggle can be made as a body of revolution whereas the paddle type toggle is made with non-circular projections on its shank portion which are oriented with respect to the broad dimension of the paddle in order that either the paddle or the bat toggle can be assembled with the same plastic actuator part of the toggle switch assembly. Both types of toggles can be conveniently assembled by inserting the shank portion of either toggle in the opening provided for this purpose in the actuator, and each toggle is adapted to be securely held in the actuator in spite of the difference in the geometry between these toggles.

Abstract: A keyboard unit is shown having a substrate in which portions of the substrate are physically displaced to provide a cavity, an embossment and a plurality of protuberances for each switching station. The embossment, in registry with a button contact area, projects upwardly from the floor of the cavity a selected distance with a discontinuance annulus contact area extending around its respective cavity in generally the same plane as that in which the top surface of the substrate lies. The cavity includes a channel shaped portion extending through the discontinued portion of the discontinuous annulus. The protuberances project upwardly from the general plane of the substrate's top surface and serve to laterally locate a snap-acting disc over the contact areas. The disc may be selectively coated with highly electrically conductive material to optimize electrical switching. A piece of flexible, electrically insulative sheet may be placed over the unit to seal it from the environment.

Abstract: A slider consisting of a one or two piece body with resilient contact switch members projecting in opposite directions at spaced intervals along the length of the slider to be in contact with a collector plate on one side and a respective one of spaced contactors at the opposite side. A plurality of ribs or protuberances which are located in the line of movement of the switch members, causes resilient deformation of the switch members to hold the switch in position once it snap fits into one or another of its respective switch positions. The protuberances may be either projections formed integrally in a switch body or on the collector plates.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly comprises a base, a plurality of pressure-operated switches mounted on said base, a keyboard comprising support means overlying the switches and having a plurality of key locations formed therewith, each including a key hinged at one side to the support means and disposed in operative relation to one of the switches, the support means defining a first aperture in each key location to permit movement of the key therethrough, each of the keys including a cantilever switch actuator which is initially formed in a first position on one side of the support means and then rotated so that it extends beneath said key from a toggle hinge on one side thereof to a second aperture in each key location on an opposite side of said key, said actuator being positioned to engage the corresponding switch when the key is depressed, an enlarged end portion of said switch actuating means being received in said second aperture, and coacting therewith during key depressing movement, said switch actuating means be

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive switch unit forming part of a resonator assembly for use in a tire pressure drop detecting apparatus of the electromagnetic induction type, wherein an atmospheric chamber, formed in a casing structure and hermetically isolated by a diaphragm from a pressure-acting chamber communicating with the tire chamber in a tire-and-wheel assembly, communicates with the atmosphere through contact surfaces of two or three of the component parts of the casing structure and further through a body of a gas-permeable synthetic rubber in part exposed to the atmosphere so that an atmospheric pressure is at all times introduced into the atmosphere atmospheric chamber and an ingress of water and dust into the atmospheric chamber is precluded by the body of the gas-permeable synthetic rubber.

Abstract: A joystick controller in which a conventional handle is moveable radially with respect to its axis relative to an axial pivot location from the nominal rest position of the handle is disclosed. A plurality of pressure-actuated switches are disposed in a common plane normal to the axis of the handle in its rest position. The switches circumscribe the approximate pivot location of the handle. A deformable resilient annular member is superimposed over the switches. The annular member is fixed to the handle so that displacement of the handle from its rest position causes an arcuate portion of the annular member to press against at least one of the switches. The annular member thus actuates selected switches depending on the direction in which the handle is displaced by the operator.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine ignition distributor wherein the circumferentially disposed stationary output electrodes carried by the distributor cap are made up of a resistive material having a predetermined resistance value per unit length.

Abstract: A switch using one or more flexible circuit members provides for rolling contact between circuit members. One circuit member is attached to and wraps round a roller, and the other circuit member, which may be flexible or rigid is supported so that as the roller rotates it rolls, the circuit member attached to the roller changing its contact position with the other circuit member. Conductive patterns on the circuit members are moved into contact and out of contact with each other and can provide varying forms of switching arrangements, for example, normally made to break, normally broken to make, and transfer. Electronic devices can be mounted on either or both circuit members.

Abstract: A diverter switch comprises at least two contact pairs, each pair having a fixed contact and a movable contact. The movable contacts are movably arranged on a pivoted current-carrying contact carrier. Each movable contact consists of two contact elements pressed by means of springs against the contact carrier on either side thereof. The current-carrying capacity of the movable contacts can be improved by means of silver plates arranged between the contact elements and the contact carrier.

Abstract: A mercury switch assembly is adapted to be secured to an anterior horizontal surface of a patient and connected to an electrical alarm system. The switch assembly comprises a head chamber and a foot chamber connected by a throat passageway. A ball of mercury moves from the head chamber through the throat passageway and into the foot chamber to complete an electrical circuit when the switch assembly is tilted from horizontal by a predetermined degree of inclination. The head chamber is generally elliptical with lateral extensions. The throat passageway is narrow and shallow. The foot chamber is deep and rounded. The ball of mercury normally lies within the head chamber in the horizontal position, but establishes electrical connection between a novel form of terminals contained in the foot chamber when the tilt threshold of the switch assembly is reached.

Abstract: An electrical switching and timing assembly is shown having a manually actuatable switch selectively closable and openable, an associated electrical circuit has an input end and an output end, the input end is intended for connection to a source of electrical potential while the output end is intended for connection to an electrical load, the associated circuit has a timing circuit effective for opening the associated circuit within a preselected span of time after the associated circuit has been closed by the manually actuatable switch, the manually actuatable switch being effective for opening the associated circuit even before the expiration of the preselected span of time.

Abstract: A rotary switch has a detent mechanism and one or more switch sections. Each switch section has a rotor disc with annular conductive tracks thereon and four sets of stator contacts, two on each side of the rotor shaft and staggered to engage alternate conductive tracks. The switch section housing has two identical parts which snap together, each section carrying two sets of contacts. The stator contacts are mounted between ribs with an interference fit of the contact edges and the rib walls. The contacts are mounted with a set of contacts joined together and then the joining web is severed.

Abstract: The self-adjusting limit switch assembly of this invention has two switches mounted on a slide for sliding movement on a bracket. A transverse slot in the slide has two facing surfaces. The switches are mounted on each side of the slot with their operating members extending slightly past the slot. The actuator is positioned to extend into the slot. When the brakes are first moved to the brake released position the actuator engages not only the operating member of the switch on that side, but also a wall of the slot and moves the slide to a brake released position thereby correctly adjusting the position of the switches. When the brakes require adjustment due to wear, the actuator engages the operating member of the second switch, as before, causing an indicator to function.

Abstract: A distributor for distributing high-voltage pulses generated by an ignition coil to individual ignition plugs through a center electrode, a rotor electrode and a plurality of side electrodes disposed opposite to the rotor electrode with a discharge gap defined therebetween, in which the discharge-participating area of the rotor electrode and/or each side electrode includes finely interspersed conductive regions and high-resistance regions thereby reducing the discharge voltage at the discharge gap between the rotor electrode and each side electrode for suppressing generation of radio noises. The discharge participating areas of the rotor and stationary electrodes may be formed of ferrite.

Abstract: A combination of a burner valve control device and an electrical switch unit carried by the device and being operated by a movable actuator controlled by the selector of the device, the selector having a control shaft rotatable about an axis thereof. The switch unit has a snap-fit arrangement snap-fitted to the device when the entire switch unit is moved in a direction substantially transverse to the axis of the control shaft to detachably secure the switch unit to the device.

Abstract: A quick dialing switching system for an adapter employed for testing a chaff-flare firing system used in military aircraft. The adapter has a base which carries a plurality of contacts for engaging the contacts of the chaff-flare firing system. The switching system comprises two rotary switches each operated by its own rotatable knob for sequentially dialing the contacts of the adapter base to allow the contacts of the firing system to be tested.

Abstract: An electrical switch includes a body having one open end exposed for adaptation of a pyrotechnic cartridge and the other end sealed by the base of a pin type connector assembly having short conductive pins and elongated conductive pins with relief areas containing insulative material. The pins are inserted into the body cavity. A conductive grounding plate or plates have tabs which bite into the pins and connect selected pins in a first operational state. A plunger having fracturable bosses is located adjacent the contact plate. Upon activation of a pyrotechnic cartridge, pressure is applied to the plunger, causing fracture of the bosses and resulting in the displacement of the plunger to move the contact plate to a different position thereby changing the number of closed circuits.

Abstract: The drink mixer (10) includes a standard (12), base (14) and motor housing (16) formed to provide an integral, unitary wall structure adjacent a stirrer arm (18). The front of the standard and top of the base are protected by a removable splatter shield (22) which is properly positioned by a locator pin (118) formed on the standard (12). The splatter shield (22) is held in place by a cup support assembly (24) and a switch actuator assembly (26). This switch actuator assembly (26) operates a power switch assembly (58) including a flat slide plate (74) which shields a normally closed microswitch (96). The lower edge of the slide plate (74) contacts a switch actuating arm (100) to depress the microswitch button (98) when the slide plate is in an "off" position. The slide plate (74) moves away from the switch actuating arm (100) to release the switch button (98) and actuate the mixer ( 10).