Abstract: The invention relates to a switch comprising a carrier which is manufactured substantially from plastic and in which fixed contacts are arranged, and a part which is movable relative to the carrier and in which movable contacts are arranged, wherein the fixed contacts are enclosed by plastic on at least a part of all their sides, so that the fixed contacts are fixed in plastic. According to a first preferred embodiment at least one plastic element extends at least on a first side of the fixed contacts, which plastic element leaves clear a part of the surface on the first side of the fixed contacts. Sufficient fixation is herein obtained by the plastic element, while it will be apparent that a contact face of the contacts must remain free in order to be able to function as a contact.

Abstract: The invention describes a switch, preferably a steering column switch, provided with an actuating member moved across the contact sections rigidly connected to the housing in a substantially pushing way. It is the object of the invention to provide a steering column switch which, being of a small-sized design, permanently provides for good contact making between the contacts to be interconnected. This problem, in the practice of the invention, is solved by ramps raising the contact bridge in the transitory area. Advantageous embodiments refer to the design of the ramp of the conductor bank and of the contact bridge.

Abstract: In a position detecting switch, a first movable contact is disposed in a first receptacle formed in a sliding body and is urged toward a casing member by a first spring so as to engage first and second stationary contacts mounted in the casing member when the sliding body is in a selected position. In order to prevent non-contact due to rotating moment of the first movable contact relative to the stationary contacts one or more features for inhibiting or reducing the relative moment are provided such as: (1) The first and second stationary contacts can be urged toward the first movable contact by fourth and fifth springs. (2) An elastic member or members can be disposed in a clearance between end walls of the sliding body and walls of the first receptacle. (3) The first spring can be restrained to apply its load to a substantially middle portion of the movable contact. (4) A plurality of the first springs can be provided to apply load the movable contact at a plurality of locations in a lengthwise direction.

Abstract: An automatic-transmission control for outputting a switch signal of a shift position is produced as follows. A first terminal unit includes small-power fixed contacts coupled with small-power contacts of a connector through a coupling portion, is formed. A second terminal unit, which includes large-power fixed contacts coupled with large-power contacts of a connector through a coupling portion, is formed. A positioning resin block is formed to at least one of the first and second terminal units. The first and second terminal units are laminated through the positioning block. A switch body and a connector are molded upon inserting the laminated first and second terminal units in a molding die. The switch body and the connector are separated by cutting the coupling portion.

Abstract: A terminal plate 6 is formed into a circular cup shape having a bottom 6b and a cylindrical wall 6a. A plurality of terminals 14 are provided on bottom 6b of terminal plate 6. A rotor 1 is rotatably supported on terminal plate 6. A contact piece 5, resiliently engaged with rotor 1, is selectively brought into contact with terminals 14 to close a circuit. An undulated portion 10 is provided along the lower end cylindrical wall 1b of rotor 1. A ball 8, a spring 9 and undulated portion 10 cooperatively constitute an intermittent movement mechanism disposed between rotor 1 and terminal plate 6. Contact piece 5 intermittently rotates against a resilient force of spring 9 to change its rotational angle in accordance with a rotation of rotor 1. An elastically deformable portion 13 is formed on cylindrical wall 1b of rotor 1 while a rigid claw 12 is formed on the upper edge of cylindrical wall 6a of terminal plate 6, cooperatively constituting a snap-in mechanism.

Abstract: A switch system (10) is shown having housing members (12, 13) forming a cavity (14) in which an actuator arm (32) is pivotably mounted. Spring electrical contact members (36, 38) are mounted on the actuator arm and slide into and out of engagement with electrical contact segments (26a, 24a) respectively mounted on respective circuit boards (26, 24) as the actuator arm pivots. The actuator arm is formed with a hub portion (32a) received in bores (12b, 13b) of the housing. The hub in turn has a bore (32b) which is received on and keyed to the manual shaft of a vehicle transmission by opposing flat surfaces (32c). First and second annular spring seal elements (34) are received between respective sealing surfaces (12a, 32a) and (13a, 32a) to prevent ingress of debris into cavity (14). Housing member (12) is formed with a connector portion (16) having a generally cylindrical connector shroud (16a) which receives terminal pins (28) which are electrically connected to contact segments (26a, 24a).

Abstract: A two-piece housing defines a cavity containing electric switch elements and a detent mechanism positioned for optimum characteristics. Axially spaced apertures in the housing support a manually controlled shaft for rotation. The shaft is drivingly coupled to the movable switch elements and the detent mechanism. A floating valve assembly, operated by the shaft and aligned by the shaft, is mounted on the outside of the housing on projections which flexibly support a valve stator containing vacuum ports. A rotor holds a selector plate against the stator for interconnecting ports. The rotor is keyed to the shaft for rotation and is spring biased toward the stator.

Abstract: A reversible electric switch has movable contacts on opposite ends of a rotor adapted for interengagement with diametrically disposed pairs of stationary contacts. Intermittency or rocking of the movable contacts with respect to the stationary contacts is eliminated by extending drive pins from the rotor into the slot provided within the contact face of the movable contact, such pins passing only partially through the thickness of such contact face. Accordingly, the force applied to the movable contacts to achieve rotation thereof is substantially at the interface between the stationary and movable contacts, substantially eliminating any force couple or moment thus precluding any rocking of the movable contact upon the rotor or other relative movement between the two.

Abstract: A miniature rotary switch has nested terminals in its bottom wall and a spherical shaped movable contact arranged in a rotatable control member such that a lower portion of the ball rides over upwardly projecting portions of a common contact ring that is nested in the lower portion of a cavity defined in the switch housing or body portion. One of the terminals is staked to the contact ring to provide an OFF position while the other circumaxially spaced positions are defined by U-shaped cut outs in the contact ring that cause the ball to seat between the edges of each U-shaped cut out and the upper end of a fixed contact terminal provided in the semi-circular cut-out area defined by the common contact ring. The ring is so formed that the ball is releasably retained in each switch position and is biased toward such ON positions when not so retained.

Abstract: A multiple switch, particularly for switching-on, switching-off and/or switching-over of motor vehicles and the like has at least one roller-shaped contact roller with a generated contact surface liftable from and bringable in contact with at least two rectilinear contact faces located near one another. The contact roller is arranged in a springy deflectable manner in a guiding part displaceable rectilinearly transversely to an axis of the contact roller and parallel to the contact surfaces. The contact roller is provided with bearing pins extending at its end sides outwardly beyond the roller surface, and is linearly displaceable by the bearing pins running over at least one control path with the ramp device so that during a displacement of the guiding part the roller is lifted at its one side from one of the contact faces.

Abstract: An electrical rotary switch in use with an automatic transmission for detecting the operative position of the transmission and controlling an electric circuit associated with the positions of the transmission. The switch comprises a switch casing composed of a base plate and a cover plate each formed of an electrically insulating material and provided in its interior surface with a plurality of fixed contacts. Supported between the base plate and the cover plate is an actuator which is rotatable about a rotation axis in response to the changing positions of the automatic transmission. The actuator has a coupling end to be interlocked with a control output shaft of the transmission which is provided to rotate in synchronism with changing positions of the transmission.

Abstract: An electric switch having a disc which is rotatable to any of several indexed positions, the disc having two generally semicircular conductive sectors rigidly attached to the disc and electrically insulated from each other; a plurality of stationary terminals, one of which is in continuous sliding contact with one of the sectors, one of which is in continuous sliding contact with the other sector, and the remaining terminals are in discontinuous sliding contact with one or the other of the sectors; the sectors being shaped to eliminate electrical contact with selected terminals at selected indexed positions of the disc.

Abstract: A rotary switch has a synthetic resin substrate on the surface of which a plurality of fixed contacts are arranged in a concentric fashion, and a holder rotatable over the expanse of the substrate, including the fixed contacts. A conductor plate supported to the holder is formed with swelled contacts which act as movable contacts. A rib is positioned so that the conductor plate contacts the rib when the switch is in the off position, thereby lifting the movable contacts from the surface of the substrate. A substantially hour glass shaped slit is used to separate and insulate the fixed contacts. The wide portions of the slit act as reservoirs for conductive wearing powder, thereby delaying a short circuit due to wearing powder accumulation. Thus, the switch alleviates wear of the movable contacts and enhances switching accuracy.

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: A rotary key switch has a momentary action such that a lock cylinder and control member are returned to normal positions by a torsion spring provided in a central bore of the control member. The switch housing is in two parts, a lower body portion and an upper panel mounted cap portion that also supports the lock cylinder. The lower portion defines a cylindrical cavity and supports the control member on a central post that is also provided in this central bore. The housing portions are telescopically secured to one another and a stop is deformed in part by the control member and the panel mounted cap portion to positively limit the rotation of the key and lock cylinder.

Abstract: A power selector assembly for a loudspeaker includes in one embodiment an audio transformer upon which a printed circuit board (PCB) is mounted via connector strips having pins for both securing the PCB to the transformer, and for individually electrically connecting foil contacts of the PCB to the multi-tapped primary and the secondary windings of the transformer. The transformer is mounted within a housing. An electrical wiper contact is resiliently mounted between the PCB and a knob retained in an access hole through the housing, for permitting the knob to be rotated for positioning the wiper contact to selectively electrically connect a foil terminal receiving an input signal to one of a plurality of contact foils of the PCB, for connecting the input signal to one of the taps of the primary winding associated with a desired power level. Other electrical connections on the printed circuit board provide for connecting a loudspeaker to the secondary winding.

Abstract: A miniature rotary switch having nested terminals in its bottom wall, and a disc shaped movable contact element arranged in a rotatable member such that a portion of the disc periphery rolls and slides across fixed contacts defined by the upper ends of these terminals. The rotatable member is restrained from movement axially in a cylindrical chamber defined for it by either a one piece housing, or in a key switch version by a two piece housing.

Abstract: The housing has a cylindrical cavity and central bore in the bottom wall for rotatably receiving a post on the cylindrical control member and the terminals have upper ends defining circumaxially spaced fixed contacts. A tubular conductor surrounds the post and is connected to one such fixed contact to provide a common contact adjacent all of the other fixed terminals. A ball is biased downwardly into contact with the common contact and selectively with the fixed contacts. The ball is provided in a recess of the rotary control member and moves over protuberances in the bottom wall of the housing to selectively connect the common contact with the individual fixed contacts.

Abstract: The switch includes a rotatable electrically insulating carriage having first and second contactors mounted thereon and facing in opposite directions from the path of the carriage, for a sliding engagement with first and second sets of fixed contacts. The contactors are biased in opposite directions, toward the contacts, by an electrically insulating switch assembly, mounted in a cylindrical opening in the carriage, and comprising a cup-shaped insulator having a cylindrical portion slidably mounted in the cylindrical opening. The insulator having a cup-shaped spring nest therein, for receiving one end of a coil spring. Biasing forces are exerted against the contactors by an end portion of the insulator and the opposite end of the coil spring. The cup-shaped insulator guides and locates the coil spring while obviating any electrical connection between the first and second contactors.

Abstract: A rotary circuit-selector switch wherein a manual actuator knob must be pushed in and then rotated in order to effect a switching action. A releasable retainer or detent assembly is provided within the switch housing to maintain the switch in selected positions of adjustment. Two spaced parallel boards are located in the housing to operatively mount the rotary switch element; one of the boards acts as an electrical circuit board. Preferably an electrothermal type circuit breaker is mounted in the housing to protect the switch circuitry from current overloads.

Abstract: A multiposition rotary transformer switch including a molded switch housing including a bore, an interrupted mounting flange located intermediate the ends of the bore and an interrupted key flange at one end of the bore, the flanges each including slots located at equally spaced intervals, the slots in one flange being offset from the slots in the other flange and a number of fixed contacts mounted on said housing, a dual voltage shaft assembly including a shaft having a drive nut at one end and a pair of floating contacts at the other end, and a tap changer shaft assembly including a shaft having a drive nut at one end and a floating contact at the other end, the shaft assemblies being adapted to be mounted in the bore in the housing and a reversible cap adapted to be mounted on the switch housing to enclose the end of the shaft assemblies in one position and mounted on the drive nut on the shaft in the other position to selectively rotate the shaft assembly with respect to the fixed contacts, the cap being

Abstract: A switch mechanism is disclosed as including a body member containing the switching elements for an electrical circuit and a rotary external actuator for producing corresponding rotary motion to the switching elements for placing the switch mechanism into its controlling conditions. The actuator is held in a restrained position upon the body member and also resiliently biased into a controlling condition by a single element, a coil spring.

Abstract: A device for controlling the rotary movement of a platen roller of a typewriter comprises a bidirectional electric motor coupled to the platen by a worm gear and gear wheel and a pair of knobs which are disposed at the sides of the platen and which are rotatable with respect thereto. The knobs are fixed to a bar which extends rotatably through the platen roller and carries the gear wheel. Selective bidirectional rotation of the knobs causes corresponding rotary movement of a disc in a transducer. The disc has a toothed sector in mesh with the gear wheel and is the moving part of a rotary switch which generates electrical signals which determine both the power supply to the electric motor and the direction of rotation thereof. Small degrees of rotary movement of the knobs against a first spring force establish continuous rotary movement of the platen roller at low speed. A further slight rotary movement of the knobs against a stronger spring force establishes rotary movement of the platen at high speed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a rotary switch assembly which comprises a lamp support plate adapted to accommodate a plurality of switchable lamps. A power contact and a detent plate is positioned above the lamp plate and contains spring loaded power contacts which coact with terminals associated with the lamp support plate to enable energization of any selected one of said plurality of lamps. The power contact and detent plate further includes spring loaded detents which cooperate with detent recesses on the lamp support plate to assure optical alignment. These spring loaded detents are positioned approximately opposite to the power contacts and exert counter balancing forces to assure low shaft friction as the lamp support plate is rotated during lamp selection.

Abstract: A snap-action switch includes a housing having a pair of terminal studs at the rear connected to stationary contact blades inside the housing located in a common plane. A pair of rotatable contact blades are supported upon a contact shaft that is rotatable in the housing and attached to a contact shaft driving insulator. A pair of coil springs around the switching shaft urge the rotatable blades together. The driving insulator is formed with notches for engagement with tabs extending from a saddle that is rotatable about a key shaft and adjacent to a cam plate driven by the key shaft. A pair of latching springs cantilevered from respective stop pins in the housing engage respective tangs on the saddle when the saddle is in a corresponding one of the two stable switch positions. An action spring around the keying shaft between the contact shaft driving insulator and the saddle plate has its ends extending through arcuate grooves in the saddle and cam plate.

Abstract: A pull-to-turn rotary switch having an outer sleeve shaped housing into which a sleeve adapter is inserted and aligned by means of mutual detents. The sleeve adapter is provided with a washer shaped bottom plate which divides the housing into two chambers, one of which contains a biasing spring and a dual stop means and the other contains the switch contacts and a contact plate or rotor driven by the innermost end of the actuating shaft to which it is slidably keyed. The dual stop means includes two separate and distinct detent discs each cooperating with a separate and distinct detent stop pin or pins.

Abstract: This invention is an improved electrical switch in which the housing is molded in one piece with the terminals being thereafter slidably inserted into an arcuate in cross section slot with a cover plate permanently retaining the same. This switch is so designed that even miniature configurations are capable of handling current loads without danger of internal arcing.

Abstract: An improved multicontact switch is disclosed which has a molded plastic body supporting a molded plastic rotor. Metallic contacts are resiliently mounted on the rotor in position to engage and bridge a second set of contacts provided in the form of a printed circuit formed on an inner surface of the switch cover. A versatile multicontact switch pattern is obtained by an appropriate layout of the printed circuit contacts in combination with a particular mounting arrangement of the contacts on the switch rotor.

Abstract: A rotary wafer switch in which the switch housing is resilient and insulating so that the wafers can be snap-fitted into it and in which the rotatable contact-carriers are provided with apertures through which the contacts in the carriers can be removed if desired after the switch has been assembled.

Abstract: A door closer connected to a door panel movable on a door frame has a housing and a rod rotatable with respect to the housing in accordance with the relative position of the door panel and the door frame. The closer includes a rotary switch with limited movement which performs various switching functions dependent upon intended use with the associated electrical components and circuitry. The switch is actuated by a rod extension and also includes a hollow, insulating casing on a housing encompassing the extension with an inwardly projecting stop. An insulating rotor or clutch disc engages the extension with a slip-friction fit. The switch is constructed so it may be adjusted to match a particular door environment.

Abstract: An improved rotary-type selector switch for fan speed control or the like including curved terminal members supported upon a base member around a central boss extending therefrom and having a conductive contactor for selectively interconnecting said terminal members when said contactor is pivoted. A cover member is attached to the contactor for pivotal movement together and retains springs which push the contactor against the terminal members and permit movement of the cover toward the contactor. The aforedescribed parts are assembled by a pin fastener with an expandable first end portion which engages the base in snapfitting relation and an enlarged second end portion overlying the cover member. Circumferentially spaced detent means and a projecting ridge formed between the pin fastener and the cover operably engage one another positively to locate the cover and connected contactor in a plurality of annular positions with respect to the base member.

Abstract: A rotary switch of sliding contact type for use in a torque converter of an automotive vehicle comprises a base in the surface of which a plurality of stationary contact plates are molded, a cover plate for the base plate suitably secured to the latter with a space for movably enclosing a rotary contact arm between the cover plate and the base plate, and a rotatable shaft fixedly received in the hub of the rotary contact arm. The hub is rotatably held between edges of corresponding openings formed in the base plate and the cover plate, so that, upon rotation of the shaft, contacts of the rotary contact arm slide across the stationary contact plates and can be stopped at positions precisely corresponding to predetermined angles of rotation of the shaft.