Reciprocating Actuator Activates Switch Patents (Class 200/43.07)
  • Patent number: 11772584
    Abstract: A motor vehicle ignition switch has a first and a second electrical circuit for detecting the angular position of a key in an ignition lock, with a rotor that is rotatable about a rotation axis so as to be able to selectively take an off position, a starting position, a running position, an on position and an intermediate position, distinct from each other; the second circuit is independent of the first circuit and defines a resistive divider; the first circuit has a first, a second and a third conductive laminas, electrically isolated from each other; the first circuit has two contacts, one of which is arranged on the third lamina in the running position and in the starting position and on the first lamina in the intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: BCS AUTOMOTIVE INTERFACE SOLUTIONS ITALY S.R.L., FCA ITALY S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Graglia, Alessandro Parusso, Ivan D'Errico
  • Patent number: 11289289
    Abstract: The problem to be addressed is to provide a highly safe and compact switch that is adapted to improvements in portability, weight reduction and size reduction of machines, or the like. An operating part has a button covering the upper part of a cylindrical housing that receives a downward pushing operation and a rotational operation. A contact unit part has contacts which open by being coupled to the downward pushing operation of the button. A twisting coil spring is disposed on the interior of the button, one end being joined to the housing, and the other end being joined to the button. A latch part disposed to the interior of the twisting coil spring, has a plunger coil spring that expands and contracts in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the downward pushing operation, and when a downward pushing operation is performed on the button, causes a sliding rod to slide along an inner wall of the housing while being displaced in the direction of the downward pushing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NKK SWITCHES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junya Takeshita
  • Patent number: 10865050
    Abstract: A manufacturing process switch with a housing consisting of a first member and a second member. The first member is rotatable from a closed position to an open position. A proximity sensor is secured to the housing that detects the proximity of the first member to the second member and generates a signal when the first member is in the open position. An engagement device is secured to the housing for retaining the first member to the second member in the closed position. A cable attachment mechanism is attached to the first member of the housing and securable to a cable of a tool. The first member is rotatable from the closed position to the open position when a breakaway force is applied to the cable attachment mechanism. The manufacturing process is stopped when the first member is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin MacArthur, Dwayne Switzer
  • Patent number: 9639109
    Abstract: An input unit for an operating element that can be actuated by pressure or rotation includes a housing having a recess portion, a carrier having a detent projection, and an input member (e.g., an actuator). The carrier is displacable relative to the housing. The input member is rotatably mounted on the carrier to be rotatable. The input member has a body with a cavity therein and a detent curve body movably arranged in the cavity such that the detent curve body is displaceable relative to the body of the input member. A first end of the detent curve body has a detent curve engaging the detent projection of the carrier. A second end of the detent curve body is adjacent to the housing part and has projections. The input member further has a spring that acts on the detent curve body to press the detent curve against the detent projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ilja Weigl
  • Patent number: 9064656
    Abstract: A safety switch is improved by the feature of staying in an open position in the event of breakage of a working rod or breakage or dropout of an operation portion and having a simple structure facilitating size reduction. Even if a rotary shaft is released from a supported state in an operation portion because an operating force of an operation or the number of operations of extracting an actuator from the operation portion exceeds a breakage tolerance, a working rod is permitted to move in an urging direction of a coil spring and is assuredly moved to the operation portion. Therefore, a switch can be assuredly set to an open position and, hence, the safety switch can achieve the safety improvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norifumi Obata, Etsurou Komori, Takeo Yasui
  • Patent number: 8497438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switching device comprising:—a first assembly (1) comprising an actuation member (10) that can take a rest position and an actuation position;—a second assembly (2) mounted on the first assembly (1) and comprising a mobile bridge (22) bearing mobile contacts (221) actuated with respect to fixed contacts (201) between an opening position and a closing position so as to respectively open or close an electrical circuit according to the position of the actuation member (10), in which:—the mobile bridge (22) is actuatable in rotation about an axis of rotation (A) and can take a third position so as to open the electrical circuit when the first assembly (1) is mechanically disconnected from the second assembly (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Francis Chauvet, Dominique Benni, Bertrand Fruchard
  • Patent number: 8173914
    Abstract: A lockable safety switch mechanism having a lockable switch mechanism that cooperates in an offset or skewed manner with an electrical switch. The lockable switch mechanism includes a switch plunger that is displaceable along a predetermined axis between a first position and a second position. A contour is formed along the switch plunger and cooperates with one or more locking mechanisms. A fork cooperates with the locking mechanism so as to selectively interfere with free movement of the switch plunger depending on the interaction between the contour and the locking mechanism. A link extends from one of the locking mechanism and the fork and interacts with a plunger of an electrical switch contact carrier so that an axis of movement of the switch plunger can be offset or skewed relative to an axis of movement of the electrical switch plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Limited
    Inventor: Julian Poyner
  • Patent number: 8115122
    Abstract: An operation portion and a switch portion of a push button switch are removably coupled. The switch portion includes a contact opening mechanism having a rotatably supported lever and a spring. The lever has one end acting on a part of the operation portion coupled with the switch portion, and the other end acting on a contact switching mechanism of the switching contact unit in the switch portion to open/close the contacts. The spring urges the lever in a fixed rotation direction. The contact switching mechanism is urged to move a movable contact from a standby state position toward an operating state position by the contact opening mechanism when the switch portion is separated from the operation portion. The contact switching mechanism is released from the urging when the switch portion is coupled with the operation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Machida, Mitsuo Nishio, Takehisa Takeuchi, Shinichi Sato, Eijiro Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 8071901
    Abstract: A safety switch for affecting the operating state of equipment to which the safety switch is at least indirectly connected. The safety switch includes a configuration, such as a number of contacts, that is arranged to change from a first condition to a second condition depending on whether or not an actuator has been engaged with or disengaged from the safety switch. The safety switch includes an arrangement for determining information that is at least indicative of an operational property of the configuration, and for storing information that is at least indicative of the obtained information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Limited
    Inventors: Julian Poyner, Derek Jones, Derek Sawyer
  • Patent number: 7956300
    Abstract: A safety holder is provided that firmly attaches to a safety switch so that safety of a worker is enhanced. The safety holder includes a base body 21 that is inserted into an actuator insertion opening 7, and limits rotation of a drive cam 9 by engaging at a tip end portion (hanging portion 21C) thereof with a concave portion of the drive cam 9 of the safety switch, and a slide body that is movably attached to the base body 21 so as to be insertable into an actuator insertion opening 8 with the base body 21 inserted in the actuator insertion opening 7, and when the slide body is inserted into the actuator insertion opening 8, that enters and engages with an engagement hole 36 of the base body 21 whose tip end portion (insertion arm 34) is being inserted into the insertion opening 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Idec Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Hidaka, Kiyo Hidaka, legal representative, Norifumi Obata, Masaki Nobuhiro, Takeo Yasui, Masahiro Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 7928330
    Abstract: There is provided a safety switch having a housing configured to receive a removable key, and a mechanism arranged to be operated when the key is moved from an engaged position to a partially disengaged position, the mechanism being arranged to cause a signal to pass to a separate apparatus, wherein the safety switch further comprises a lock which is controlled by the separate apparatus and is arranged to prevent the key from being fully disengaged from the safety switch until a signal has been received in response from the separate apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Limited
    Inventors: Julian Poyner, David T. Williams, Gillian P Parker, David Howard Kerr, Derek W Jones, Derek Sawyer, Geoffrey Alan Talbot, William E Anderson, Michael R. Scharnick, Stephen Zbytowski
  • Patent number: 7893802
    Abstract: A position switch is disclosed with a device to generate a magnetic force, with at least a first coil and at least one armature, it being possible to magnetize and move the armature via the first coil. How the magnetic force, particularly at the start of movement of the movable components of the device, can be increased to reduce the necessary power consumption of the first coil, is a focus of at least one embodiment. For this purpose, at least one embodiment of the device to generate a magnetic force includes at least one device to premagnetize the armature. The result includes a series of advantages, e.g. a smaller design, lower power consumption and possible use with multiple different switching units with different counterforces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Silvio Förtsch, Bernhard Hiltl, Werner Puri, Joachim Seidl
  • Patent number: 7834280
    Abstract: A safety switch that includes a housing, a first switch, and a second switch. The switch has a two part rod that is axially moveable within the housing. The parts of the rod are co-operable with respect to one another and independently operable to activate one of the first and second switches. A biasing element is arranged to bias the rod parts into contact with a cam arrangement and arranged to bias the rod parts out of engagement with one of the respective switches. The cam arrangement is configured such that rotation of the cam arrangement will move the rod parts thereby activating the switches to allow the safety switch to conduct electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Limited
    Inventor: Julian Poyner
  • Patent number: 7781687
    Abstract: A control unit including a monitoring apparatus is disclosed, with the monitoring apparatus having an operating element and an attachment element. In at least one embodiment, the control unit is in two parts and includes an operating unit and switching elements. The required spatial association between the operating unit and the switching element is intended to be monitored in a cost-effective and reliable manner. For this purpose, when the monitoring apparatus is installed correctly, at least one second switching element can be operated by way of an operating member, and a first switching element is operated at the same time by way of the operating element of the monitoring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Scherl, Rudolf Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7605335
    Abstract: A position switch is disclosed, with a plunger. In at least one embodiment, the plunger can be moved, via an actuator, from a rest position to an operating position by way of a first rotatable locking element. A second rotatable locking element is usable to block the first rotatable locking element by way of the plunger. A position switch is specified, which separates the actuating mechanism for a switch unit from the holding-shut mechanism and, in doing so, guarantees reliable holding-shut, which manages with a low number of components. Here, the plunger is designed to contact an active surface of the first locking element in the operating position and to contact an active surface of the second locking element in the rest position. The first locking element is able to block the second locking element by way of the plunger and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Hiltl, Werner Puri, Joachim Seidl, Rudolf Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7563995
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement includes a first mounting that is attachable to a first support structure and configured to cooperate with one of a safety switch and a safety switch actuator and a second mounting configured to cooperate with the other of the safety switch and the safety switch actuator. The first and second mountings provide variable guided interaction between the first and second mountings and thereby provided variable guided interaction between the safety switch and the safety switch actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Limited
    Inventor: Derek Jones
  • Patent number: 7536880
    Abstract: A magnetic lid switch assembly includes a first magnetically actuated electrical switch that has a lever arm movable between a first position wherein the first switch is open and a second position wherein the first switch is closed. A second magnetically actuated electrical switch electrically is connected in series with the first switch. The second switch has a lever arm movable between a first position wherein the second switch is open and a second position wherein the second switch is closed. A first actuator is magnetically coupled to the first switch. The first actuator moves the lever arm of the first switch closing the first switch to enable the first switch to pass an electric current when the first actuator is positioned proximate the first switch. A second actuator is magnetically coupled to the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Errin Whitney Gnadinger, Kristian Michael Magnuson, Thomas William McConihay, John Jacob Lapina, Jr., Derek Lee Watkins
  • Patent number: 7514644
    Abstract: A safety switch control mechanism includes a linkage and a safety control key. The linkage has a bracket mounted to an instrument panel of an exerciser and a wheel thereof rotatably mounted to the bracket. The instrument panel includes a keyhole located at an opposite side thereof to the bracket. The wheel has at least one hook portion formed at an outer periphery thereof, and a holding portion and a releasing portion formed at one side thereof. The safety control key has a through hole for engaging said at hook portion. When the safety control key is inserted into or pulled away from the keyhole, the sidewall of the through hole forces clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the wheel to further shift the releasing portion for contact against a micro switch mounted to the instrument panel, and thus the micro switch is driven to switch on or off the power supply of the exerciser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Helathstream Taiwan, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan-Chen Chen, Hung-Chih Tseng
  • Patent number: 7429708
    Abstract: A safety switch that includes a body, a number of contacts, a movable plunger, a signal emitter, and a signal detector. The signal emitter and signal detector are positioned proximate the plunger and configured to assess the operability of the safety switch. The plunger is configured to selectively allow or prevent passage of a signal emitted from the signal emitter toward the signal detector depending on a position of the plunger. Control circuitry in connection with the signal detector is arranged to generate a control signal based on the detection of the emitted signal and configured to control operation of the safety switch independent of the relative position of the number of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: EJA, Limited
    Inventors: Julian Poyner, James E. Dogul, Burt Sacherski
  • Publication number: 20080078658
    Abstract: There is provided a safety switch having a housing configured to receive a removable key, and a mechanism arranged to be operated when the key is moved from an engaged position to a partially disengaged position, the mechanism being arranged to cause a signal to pass to a separate apparatus, wherein the safety switch further comprises a lock which is controlled by the separate apparatus and is arranged to prevent the key from being fully disengaged from the safety switch until a signal has been received in response from the separate apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: EJA LIMITED
    Inventors: Julian Poyner, David T. Williams, Gillian P. Parker, David Howard Kerr, Derek W. Jones, Derek Sawyer, Geoffrey Alan Talbot, William E. Anderson, Michael R. Scharnick, Stephen Zbytowski
  • Patent number: 7339125
    Abstract: A safety switch operating mechanism having an engagement mechanism mechanically linked to a plunger and arranged to receive an actuator such that insertion of the actuator into the engagement mechanism moves the plunger to a first position and removal of the actuator from the engagement mechanism moves the plunger to a second position. The safety switch operating mechanism having a resilient member which engages with the plunger and resiliently resists movement of the plunger from the first position to the second position. The engagement of the resilient member with the plunger resists inadvertent removal of the actuator from the engagement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: EJA Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Charles Barrington Day
  • Patent number: 7271355
    Abstract: A indexing wheel mounted in the head assembly of a safety switch has an axis of rotation extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the plunger, and against whose lateral surface the plunger bears. A key channel in the head assembly is adapted for receiving a key and into which the indexing wheel projects. A key, upon being inserted into and upon being withdrawn from the key channel positively rotates a cam plate about its axis of rotation and switches over the switch. The switch and key is maintained in locked status by action of the locking hole on the cam pin and by action of the plunger when a key is inserted into the head assembly where the plunger becomes inserted in the locking hole of the indexing wheel and/or the flank on the cam pin after rotation by the key causing the key and switch to become locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Hyoungkeun Yu
  • Patent number: 7223927
    Abstract: A locking switch assembly includes a cam, a plunger, and a locking mechanism. The cam is rotatably attached to a frame assembly and an end of the plunger is constructed to follow a contour of the cam. The plunger is movable between a plunger first position and a plunger second position. A pin is biased against the plunger and movable between a pin first position and a pin second position and locks the plunger in the plunger second position when the pin is in the pin second position. A breakable arm prevents movement of the plunger from the plunger second position to the plunger first position unless a force above a selected amount is applied to the cam when the plunger is in the plunger second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: EJA Limited
    Inventor: Julian Poyner
  • Patent number: 7138589
    Abstract: A wireless device to be mounted on a license plate of an automobile is composed of a casing, components contained in the casing and an operating member inserted into the casing. A battery for supplying power to the components is selectively turned on or off by controlling an insertion depth of the operating member into the casing. At an initial depth, the power supply is turned on for testing the wireless device at a manufacturing plant. At an intermediate depth, the power supply is turned off to save energy consumption in periods of transportation or storage. At a final depth, the power supply is finally turned on for actual use of the wireless device, and the casing is hermetically closed by the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yukiomi Tanaka, Shingo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7057122
    Abstract: A remote controller has a sliding switch which has more than two contacting positions linearly disposed, and a sliding lever to switch among the contacting positions. A slider engaged with the sliding lever and the slider has an angle portion. A first cam piece has a first V-shaped notch to fit the angle portion of the slider. The first cam piece corresponds to one or two of the contacting positions located in a central portion of the sliding switch. A second cam piece has a second V-shaped notch to fit the angle portion. The second cam piece corresponds to two of the contacting positions located on side portions of the sliding switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: SMK Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Mizuno, Minh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6989727
    Abstract: A locking system is for a safety switch. The switch has a reading head (2) and an actuator (3) with first and second modules (10, 14) containing electric and/or electronic components. The components can be caused to interact electrically in a contactless manner to control the safety switch. The actuator (3) can be locked on the reading head (2) by a controllable electromagnet (7), which cooperates with a counterelement (12). The counter-element (12) and/or the electromagnet (7) is/are connected in a fixed manner to a corresponding base element (13), which is fixed to the actuator (3) or reading head (2), but can be pivoted in relation to the base element. The first and/or second module (10, 14) is/are integrated into the respective counter-element (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Euchner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Erik Bachle
  • Patent number: 6982391
    Abstract: A safety position switch including a push rod which responds to the movement of an actuator connected to a device to be made safe in order to act upon an electrical device by a lockable transmission mechanism acted on by the push rod. The transmission mechanism includes a pivoting lever capable of assuming a locked position and an unlocked position. The pivoting lever has force applied to it from the push rod such that a movement of translation of the push rod generates a rotation of the lever and the pivoting lever has an arm with a jamming element that is applicable, in the locked position of the lever and transversely with respect to the main axis, against the locking head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Hugues Da Dalt
  • Patent number: 6900399
    Abstract: An electrical switch assembly for actuating an electrical circuit by closing at least one pair of conducting contacts in a sliding manner is disclosed. The assembly includes a contact carrier within a switch housing, a spring attached to the carrier that biases the carrier in an electrical circuit open position, a slot connected to the carrier that receives a force transfer member, and a force transfer member that is insertable into the slot and transfers a force applied by a switch operator to an angled wall portion of the slot. The angle of the wall portion is preferably 45-degrees relative to the axis of travel of the force transfer member. In operation, when the force transfer member is inserted into the slot and pushes against the angled wall, the carrier is displaced approximately orthogonal to the insertion direction of the force transfer member to move the contacts in the carrier from an electrical circuit open position to an electrical circuit closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher K. Wyatt, Pat A. Bolen
  • Patent number: 6872898
    Abstract: A lockable switch mechanism for a machine guard includes a switch plunger and locking and switch mechanisms. The plunger moves, upon insertion of an actuator, between two positions to actuate the switch mechanism and is locked by the locking mechanism, which has one locking member biased against a surface of the plunger and another locking member that is displaceable between locked and released positions. The plunger has an annular shoulder that displaces the first locking member when the plunger is moved. The second locking member prevents displacement of the first locking member by the plunger to thereby prevent movement of the plunger. Thus removal of the actuator is prevented unless the second locking member has been moved to the unlocked position when the machine is in a safe condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: EJA Limited
    Inventor: Medi Mohtasham
  • Patent number: 6861597
    Abstract: A device switches an electrical connection in accordance with the condition of a device to be monitored, especially to a safety switch (1) for a protective device. The safety switch includes a housing (2,3) in which a switch disk (7) is mounted for rotation about an axis (8). An actuator (5) can be inserted for triggering the switching process. A latching device blocks the switch disk (7). The latching device has a latching element (12a, 12b) guided in the switch disk (7) and movable against the effect of a first energy accumulator (11). In a position in which it blocks the switch disk (7), the latching element (12a, 12b) engages an associated recess (13a, 13b) in the housing (2, 3). A rotatable release element (14a, 14b) disposed beside the switch disk (7), is rotatable relative to the switch disk (7) when the actuator (5) is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Euchner GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Erik Baechle
  • Patent number: 6660949
    Abstract: An actuator of the present invention comprises an operation key 2 to be inserted into a key insertion hole formed in the safety switch, and a base 3. The operation key 2 is held on the base 3 and capable of freely swinging in two orthogonal directions. The actuator also comprises means (e.g. a guide stopper 4 and engagement spaces 34) for selectively restricting the swinging movement of the operation key 2 to either of the two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Idec Izumi Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Kamino, Takao Fukui, Yoshio Sekino, Kenji Miyauchi, Hideo Niinai, Tokunori Tanaka, Kazuya Okada, Ken Maeda, Yoshihiro Shima
  • Patent number: 6646212
    Abstract: A switch mechanism comprising a housing in which a switch is mounted, the switch being actuable to switch between first and second conditions. A cam is mounted within the housing to rotate about a predetermined cam axis, the cam defining a cam surface against which a cam follower bears such that rotation of the cam causes displacement of the cam follower to activate the switch. An actuator shaft which may be connected to a safety rope is mounted to be axially displaceable within the housing, the actuator shaft being mechanically coupled to the cam such that axial displacement of the shaft causes the cam to rotate about its axis. The actuator shaft is positionable in an intermediate axial position in which the cam is rotatable to a predetermined rotational position such that the cam follower causes the switch to assume the first condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: EJA, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mehdi Mohtasham
  • Patent number: 6501037
    Abstract: This invention relates to a push-button type switch comprising electrical contacts actuated by a head made up of a command button (1) associated with a body (2) within which is housed a piston (4) and a push rod (6) acting on electrical contacts which are able to slide and to pivot within the body (2) along an axis (X—X) without being able to pivot relative to one another, the push rod (6) being fitted with a first catch (7) and a second catch (8) characterized by the fact that the piston (4) is fitted with a command device (41) capable, when the button (1) is pushed, of actuating the first catch (7) called the stop catch immobilizing the push rod (6) in the “stand-by” position and then releasing the push rod (6) which can move into the “held” position where it is immobilized by the second catch (8) which is used to maintain contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SA
    Inventors: Alain Gressier, Michel Gendre
  • Patent number: 6483053
    Abstract: A lock switch apparatus comprises: a key insertion hole 7; a detection switch unit 9 for detecting the insertion of an operation key 2 in the key insertion unit 7; a lock unit 11 for locking the operation key 2 when the operation key 2 is inserted in the key insertion hole 7; and a lock detection unit 13 for detecting the operation state of the lock unit 11. The lock unit 11 is configured so that the operation key 2 is locked by the attraction of a solenoid 12, a movable system of a solenoid-side movable portion is configured by providing an associatively movable portion which moves in association with the solenoid-side movable portion with respect to the solenoid-side movable portion of the solenoid 12, and vibration/impact absorbing means 14 is provided to provide a balance state of operating forces applied to the movable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kajio, Hidemitu Takenaka, Yoshihito Koshiba, Mitumi Kobayashi, Masaharu Hibi
  • Publication number: 20020157930
    Abstract: An actuator of the present invention comprises an operation key 2 to be inserted into a key insertion hole formed in the safety switch, and a base 3. The operation key 2 is held on the base 3 and capable of freely swinging in two orthogonal directions. The actuator also comprises means (e.g. a guide stopper 4 and engagement spaces 34) for selectively restricting the swinging movement of the operation key 2 to either of the two directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Yasushi Kamino, Takao Fukui, Yoshio Sekino, Kenji Miyauchi, Hideo Niinai, Tokunori Tanaka, Kazuya Okada, Ken Maeda
  • Patent number: 6380846
    Abstract: A pull station for an alarm includes a housing with a handle mounted for sliding movement within the housing. The housing includes a window for a user to access the handle for forcibly sliding the handle in a vertical direction. A latch is rotatably mounted to the handle and spring biased to rotate to a locked position upon sliding movement of the handle. The latch has a portion which moves to bear against a stationary element of the housing to establish the locked position. The housing can be opened to reset the handle without changing the state of the alarm. Closing of the housing automatically resets the alarm. An attached terminal block includes a plurality of U-shaped terminal elements each having a screw terminal, a solder lug and a press pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Pittway Corporation
    Inventor: Eric W. Hohlfelder
  • Patent number: 6198058
    Abstract: A switch assembly is provided that comprises a switch having a normally open contact and a normally closed contact which is electrically connected to the normally open contact and which is located either within the same housing as the normally open contact or a separate housing. The housing(s) may be mounted onto a latch assembly which, in turn, is mounted onto a switch operator, thereby closing the normally open contact. If the latch assembly becomes mechanically disengaged from the switch operator, thereby rendering the normally closed contact non-operational, the normally open contact will open, thereby opening the circuit to a machine performing a controlled function. The user, noticing the stoppage of operation, will then be alerted of a malfunction within the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Rockwell Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank J. Graninger, Richard M. Green