Abstract: This invention is directed at a switch lock comprising a top plate positioned between the lock portion and the switch portion. The top plate includes a recess which provides stop means for the switch lock.

Abstract: A tap changer is adapted for being mounted both internally and externally to a transformer. The tap changer includes a frame having a planar portion and a flange portion generally transverse thereto. A plurality of contacts extend from the planar portion and are adapted for engaging the associated contacts of the transformer. A pivot control assembly is connected to the flange portion and defines a pivot axis. A shaft having a female coupling system adapted for engaging the pivot control assembly is mounted thereto for rotating the shaft. A brace is provided for positioning the shaft coupling system on the pivot control system. A displaceable disk having a spring mechanism is adapted for engaging the contacts while also simultaneously maintaining engagement of the coupling systems.

Abstract: A switch comprises a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact which is fixed to a slider. The movable contact is held in contact with a conductive roller held rotatably to one of the stationary contacts. Upon movement of the slider, the movable contact moves along the rotating roller between positions engaging and dis-engaging the other fixed contact.

Abstract: An indexing mechanism for an optical instrument, such as a microscope, includes a support, a rotatable assembly having a plurality of detents, and a fixed member and a rotating wheel mounted to a spring. The non-rotating member is adapted to engage the detent formed in a flange on the nosepiece shell to provide positive and accurate alignment between the support and the rotatable assembly. When the rotatable assembly is rotated relative to the support, the rotating wheel engages the flange and provides for essentially friction-free rotation between detents. By insulating the spring and rotating wheel, the indexing mechanism may be used as a switch to control an electrical function of the optical instrument.

Abstract: A push-pull switch unit includes a rectangular casing having a threaded mounted hub to clamp the casing to a support wall. The casing has a flat contact wall and an opposed flat latch wall. At least one pair of electrical contacts are secured to the contact wall in selected spaced relation to each other. A contact roller is mounted in a movable carrier within the housing adjacent the contact wall. A latch roller is also mounted in the opposite wall of the carrier in alignment with said contact roller. Springs urge the contact roller and the latch roller outwardly into engagement with the adjacent opposed walls. The opposite flat casing wall includes latch recesses into which the latch roller moves to hold said carrier in position. A push-pull operating rod is secured to the carrier for positioning thereof. The carrier includes an opening in the front wall having an outwardly extending slot defining a resiliently movable opening wall.

Abstract: A brush wear indicator for a dynamoelectric machine including a brush holder for slidably mounting a brush, a self-winding, brush-biasing spring having one of its ends mounted in fixed relationship on the brush holder, in combination with a circuit board having a dielectric member on which a plurality of electrical contacts are mounted in spaced relationship to be electrically engaged by the spring when it is fully extended to accept a new brush in the brush holder. As the brush wears, the spring moves downward to continue exerting a biasing force on the brush, and sequentially moves out of engagement with the contacts on the circuit board responsive to predetermined degrees of brush wear occurring. Such movement of the spring causes the contacts to be sequentially disengaged from the spring, thereby causing associated signal means, such as glow lamps, to be de-energized thus indicating the occurrence of the predetermined degrees of brush wear.

Abstract: A vibration sensor has a base with two support structures on the base. Each support structure includes a pair of spaced juxtaposed electrical contact members that define a support region, and a crossbar element that has two spaced apart electrically conductive portions is supported on the contact members in the corresponding support regions for completing electric circuits between the corresponding pairs of contact members and for movement away from the contact members under the influence of acceleration forces to which the base is subjected to interrupt those electric circuits. Terminal means connect each contact member to remote circuitry.

Abstract: An AC switch mechanism utilizes a ball contact to which generally linear motion is imparted by a rockable actuator having a spring providing downward contact force and a spring acting ball pusher leg to provide a snap action. In a single pole configuration disclosed as a typical and basic embodiment of the switch, the ball contact in one extreme position engages and extends as a conductive bridging element between bared conductor wires of an electric cable. The cable thus dispenses with the need for assembling separately made switch terminals with the other components of the mechanism. When moved from the "on" position to its other extreme, "off" position, the ball moves onto sloping ramps having a slight, gradual inclination relative to the lengths of the conductor wires. The construction offers a slow break to provide a minimum arc length before the zero point of the AC cycle, a characteristic of great importance in the design and operation of AC switches.

Abstract: A moveable electrical contact for a direct-current, high-capacity circuit breaker includes a cylindrical contact body provided with a cylindrical borehole arranged eccentrically on the contact body and extending in a longitudinal direction. An inner body can be arranged in the borehole and connected to a drive rod. This arrangement provides an advantage in that, owing to the eccentric arrangement of the borehole, the breaking current formed during opening of the circuit breaker contacts is forced to form a loop whereby a good quenching of the electric arc is achieved. The construction of the moveable contact is also mechanically quite stable.

Abstract: A position sensor includes first and second parts rotatable relative to each other. The first part includes first and second half-ring conductors insulated from each other. The conductors define a sliding surface and the ends of the conductors are spaced to define a slot interrupting the sliding surface. The second part includes a spherical ball closely received in a bore normal to said sliding surface. A spring resiliently urges the ball into said slot to make contact between the two conductors.

Abstract: A removable vacuum indicator valve, horizontally affixed to the outside of an evacuated container, such as a flat-plate solar energy collector, wherein a movable sphere inside the valve is positioned to open or close the valve by the force of gravity or atmospheric pressure. The sphere, in open position, indicates the loss of vacuum and completes an electrical circuit which automatically activates a pump for restoring the vacuum to the container. The vacuum indicator valve, in combination with a normally closed valve installed permanently inside the evacuated container, and a remote electrically activated vacuum pumping system, provides a simple, inexpensive method for permanently maintaining and monitoring the vacuum in the container.

Abstract: A piano action keyboard for an electronic musical instrument or the like wipes a switch actuator (or other mechanical component of electric signal translation means) across switch contacts on a printed circuit board to generate signals indicative of the position and motionof a key when played. The keyboard provides a highly realistic piano "feel" through an array of paired depressable playing keys and arms. Each such arm supports a switch actuator or the like, with varying force transmission at different stages of depression of its corresponding key, the overall electrical-mechanical combination affording a response in terms of both actual results and kinesthetic feedback simulating a manual piano action.

Abstract: An electrical switch comprises a pair of spaced terminals, fixed in an insulating housing; a metal roller; and, a finger-piece for moving the roller between first and second switching positions engaging only one and both terminals respectively. The one terminal is resiliently flexed to bias the roller against the second terminal in the second switching position. The one terminal comprises a cantilever spring having an upset end protruding into the roller path and providing the fulcrum for an overcenter action biassing the roller in either switching position.

Abstract: A piano-action keyboard for an electronic musical instrument or the like wipes a switch actuator (or other mechanical component of electric signal translation means) across switch contacts on a printed circuit board to generate signals indicative of the position and motion of a key when played. The keyboard provides a highly realistic piano "feel" through an array of paired depressable playing keys and arms. Each such arm supports a switch actuator or the like, with varying force transmission at different stages of depression of its corresponding key, the overall electrical-mechanical combination affording a response in terms of both actual results and kinesthetic feedback simulating a manual piano action.

Abstract: A single-pole single-throw electric switch having a fewer number of simple parts more easily adapted for automatic assembly, and having a low base height due to a leaf spring biased roller contact actuated by a double-incline apex on the operating lever movable overcenter on the roller contact to snap it into or out of bridging engagement with a pair of stationary contacts. A single insulating plate held in vertical grooves in opposite walls of an open-top base retains in place a pair of press-in lead leaf-spring connectors and also supports the stationary contacts in place up against the cover, the terminal portions of which are retained by their opposite edges in spaced vertical grooves in opposite walls of a pair of terminal compartments in the base. The arrangement is such that all the parts can be lowered down into the base in predetermined order thereby affording automatic assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a vibration sensing device which is used in safety and security equipment. The device is effectively an electrical switch and includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive plates each having an annular track formed by a hole. An electrically conductive bar is mounted between the plates on the tracks. On sensing a vibration the bar will resonate lifting off the tracks thus making and breaking the electrical circuit between the plates.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch having an extremely small size for its number of contacts and capability. The switch has a tubular insulating housing with the snap-in pushbutton non-rotatably keyed in and extending through the upper reduced bushing end thereof for longitudinal reciprocal movement. Bifurcated spring contacts are molded into a snap-in base and extend upwardly therefrom into the housing. A ring-shaped common terminal is snap-in attached to the base before snap-in assembly thereof in the housing. A cylindrical bar movable contact guided in grooves in the housing is snap-in assembled between tabs in the bifurcated inner end of the snap-in pushbutton and keeps the snap-in tabs spread apart to prevent removal of the pushbutton from the housing. A helical return spring lines the walls of the housing and is compressed between the common terminal and the ends of the movable contact bar to act as both a return spring and as a connector.

Abstract: An electrically conductive annular elastic contactor is trapped in a cavity in a housing defined by a bottom wall and left and right side walls. A movable operator cammingly engages the contactor, compressively deforming it until an overcenter position is passed, after which the contactor snaps against the opposite side wall to make and/or break contact with stationary contacts mounted on at least one of the walls.The contactor acts both as the movable contact for engaging stationary contacts and as snap action biasing means for effecting switching operations. Due to the resilient deformation of the contactor, there is afforded a torsional shearing of contact welds.

Abstract: A gaming surface contact detecting system for detecting the presence of a particular type of projectile upon touchdown of the projectile on any gaming surface or surfaces and for locating the position of touchdown of the projectile in relation to the gaming surface or surfaces. The gaming surface contact detecting system includes a projectile with at least one surface portion of detectable material, and a surface signal means. The surface portion of the projectile may include a contact recognition surface such as a chemical surface or an electrical conductive surface. The surface signal means may include a second chemical surface or may include a sensing means. The surface signal means is connected on at least a portion of the gaming surface. Upon positive contact between the projectile and the surface signaling means, a signal is initiated that signals the touchdown of the projectile that bounces off the surface signaling means on the gaming surface.

Abstract: Two side-by-side elongate terminals support, from below, one or a pair of electrically-conducting bodies which contact the terminals and thus provide electrical continuity between the terminals so that vibration will cause the body or bodies to lift from one or both of the terminals and break the continuity.

Abstract: A toggle switch having a snap-in bushing for mounting in a hole in a panel. A one-piece foldable housing has slots for the switch parts. These parts are assembled in one housing half and the other housing half is folded over and sonically bonded to the first half. Quick-connect terminals are provided by a hinged door on one housing half that allows the terminals to be pivoted up, an insulated conductor pair inserted therebelow and the door pinched shut by pliers or the like whereby the connectors pierce the insulation to make the connections. Resilient stationary contacts and a spherical movable contact provide snap-action closing and opening of the contacts.

Abstract: A plunger actuated, electrical switch uses a lost motion mechanism to prevent the switch from making and breaking contact more than once for each plunger depression. The plunger drives a contact element from a rest position to a contact position where electrical communication between two terminals is established and remains established until the plunger has retreated a fixed amount through a range of lost motion, whereupon it re-engages the contact element and drives it toward the rest position, breaking electrical communication between the terminals.

Abstract: A miniature electrical switch including a housing having a cover and a base plate and a switching assembly within the housing. The switching assembly includes a switch actuator, a ball contactor and a spring, together with a contact assembly. A plurality of contacts are engageable by the ball contactor to electrically interconnect contacts connected to a circuit. The contacts are arranged to enable the switch to be used in single-pole double-throw, double-pole double-throw or multiple-pole double-throw modes.

Abstract: A driving power source and one or more load circuits are arranged in prescribed terminal contact with a revolving ball comprised of a pair of electro-conductive hemispheres and an intervening electro-insulating portion in such an arrangement that activation of each of the load circuits is switched on and off, polarity of the activation being controlled as desired by manual turning of the ball in selected directions and each hemisphere being always charged differently from the other through the terminal contact with the driving power source circuit.

Abstract: A shock and vibration sensitive switch is shown constructed from a toroidally shaped disc having a conductive outer periphery supported by sharp, film-penetrating contacts mounted in an insulated housing. The switch may be used in a security system which is energized by the shock and vibration accompanying an unauthorized entry to trigger an alarm. The insulated housing is wafer-shaped and mounts C-shaped contacts that permit the sensor to be unobtrusively mounted in either direction, which contributes to the security of the system.

Abstract: A grooved contact roller is movable in a housing between two switching poions determined by an elastic positioning element which defines an intermediate position in which the contact roller is in a state of unstable equilibrium. The positioning element is engaged in the groove of the roller and the latter is disposed flat against the bottom of the housing. A slidable cover for the housing constitutes an actuating member for the switch and has a journal which extends toward the bottom of the housing and is engaged with clearance in a central aperture of the roller.

Abstract: An acceleration sensing device comprising an electrically conductive annular conductive support ring, an electrically conductive sphere to be placed on the upper inner periphery of said support ring, and an electrically conductive contact disposed in the neighborhood of said ball, thereby the device being capable of detecting acceleration in any direction by the use of the electrical conduction between the support ring and the contact through the ball.

Abstract: A multiposition rotary switch having detent means. A retainer spring of elastic insulating material is nonrotatably mounted on a board, advantageously a printed circuit board, and a rotatable body of insulating material is positioned to rotate around a portion of the spring retainer. A plurality of conductive contact rollers are captivated between the spring retainer and the board by the elastic force of the retainer. The rollers are moved in response to manual rotation of the body to bridge in rotational sequence corresponding pairs of conductive pads suitably etched on the board to thereby make or break electrical connection between the pads of each pair. Indexing and selectively stopping the rollers to "on" and "off" positions are achieved by a plurality of detent means on the spring retainer.

Abstract: A ball/socket switch having a sensing arm affixed to the ball and mounted in relation to a pneumatic tire such that deflation of the tire causes the sensing arm to move the ball in the socket. Preferably, both the ball and the socket are injection molded of glass-filled nylon or ABS plastic. First and second electrical conductors, one affixed to the ball and the other affixed to the socket are normally maintained out of contact by a spring loaded ball detent mechanism. When the deflation of a pneumatic tire causes the ball to move in the socket by an adequate amount, the electrical conductors contact one another. A suitable power source and indicator connected in series with the electrical conductors results in a visual and/or audio indication of conductor contact and, thus, a visual and/or audio indication that the associated pneumatic tire is deflated.

Abstract: The switch has two metal contact strips projecting upwardly from the bottom all of the housing and connected to two pins which extend out of the housing. A rectilinear slideway parallel to the end wall contains a slide of electrically insulating material which is movable in the slideway between a first position and a second position. The slideway has an aperture in the region of the contact strips and the slide has a cavity which contains a freely rotatable contact roller and has confronting lateral surfaces which urge the roller to a position for interconnecting the contact strips in said first position of the slide and an inoperative position of rest in said second position of the slide. A spring wire supported in the slide biases the roller out of the cavity toward the contact strips.

Abstract: A miniature switch assembly includes a switch housing having a cover and end plate and includes a plurality of switch operating rocker arms extending outwardly from the switch cover. Each of the operating rocker arms is rotatably movable between a first closed position and a second open position and includes a spring mounted in the base which biases a ball contactor thereon to selectively bridge a pair of conductor terminals mounted within the housing to complete the switch action. Each pair of the conductor terminals is secured to the end plate which in turn is secured to the switch cover to hold the switch assembly in assembled relationship.

Abstract: A heavy current switch comprising two stationary contacts, each consisting of two parts which form, upon being joined together, inter-contact spaces between which there is a movable contact system with two groups of contact rollers which either close or break said inter-contact spaces and which are arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the movable contact system.The stationary contacts are either arranged parallel to each other or made as semicylinders enveloping the movable contact system.