Abstract: This invention is directed at a lock actuated switch which has a housing and a lock cylinder. The housing includes a terminal housing portion and a support portion. The support portion has a wall that defines a longitudinal bore and that has an inner surface with V shaped notches formed therein. The V shaped notches may be formed by three triangular surfaces which meet at their apices. The longitudinal bore extends through the terminal housing portion and the wall has means of retaining a series of fixed contacts that have arced terminal ends. The lock cylinder includes a terminal end, a longitudinal second bore and a body portion. Tumbler slots are formed in the body portion in spaced relation to each other. One of the tumbler slots has a spring loaded detent tumbler mounted therein. As the lock cylinder is moved axially into the housing, the detent tumbler rides over one of the V shaped notches compressing the spring until the detent tumbler passes over the V shaped notch and comes to rest.

Abstract: An electrical switch construction includes a housing having an aperture therein, fixed and movable contacts in the housing, an actuator in the housing, and an O-ring in the housing. The actuator includes a substantially hemispherical portion and an actuator arm which extends outwardly from the substantially hemispherical portion and through the aperture in the housing. The actuator arm is pivotably mounted in the housing, and it is manipulatable from the exterior of the housing for moving the movable contact between a position of engagement with the fixed contact and a position of spaced disengagement therefrom. The O-ring is mounted in the interior of the housing so that it extends around the aperture therein, and so that it engages the surface of the substantially hemispherical portion of the actuator to provide a water-resistant seal between the actuator and the housing.

Abstract: A rotary switch having a housing carrying a plurality of terminals which may be assembled within the housing in various combinations to give the switch different operating characteristics, with the terminals providing a circular array of spaced switch contacts arranged in a plane normal to the switch axis, has a rotary carrier mounting at least one disc contactor facing the array of contacts, the carrier being biased toward the plane of the contacts to urge the contactor into circuit closing relation with the contacts. A switch base snaps together with the terminal housing to enclose the carrier and an actuator, preferably in the form of a key lock tumbler plug, extends through the base and drivingly engages with the carrier to effect rotation of the contractor relative to the contacts and thereby operate the switch.

Abstract: A thermomagnetic switch is mountable on a chamber wall to extend into a liquid filled chamber. A reed switch in the switch is controlled by the strength of a magnetic field produced by a cylindrical magnet surrounding the reed switch. The magnetic flux passing through the reed switch is varied by a ferromagnetic cylindrical element having a magnetic permeability varying with temperature that shunts magnetic flux at a level varying with temperature. A ferrous slug or shaft adjacent to the reed switch is movable to shunt a selectable portion of the magnetic flux and permit a fine temperature adjustment. A method of adjusting the operating temperature of switch reduces the magnetic strength of the magnet in the switch in small increments while the switch is exposed to a selected temperature until the switch operates to establish its operating temperature.